A campaign group has hit out at plans to build five new homes on land next to an historic Welwyn Garden City pub, describing the design as "unacceptable".

The application, submitted by John Stylianou of Style Building Services, proposes the building of five new homes off Beehive Lane, with associated access, car parking and amenity space.

A small building on the land would be demolished as part of the plans, with the development sitting next to the former Beehive pub.

But, Together for WGC has spoken out against the proposal, describing its design as "unacceptable" for the area.

"We were pleased to be able to publicly commend and support the new houses nearing completion in Mill Green, as fitting the area and being well-spaced and sympathetically designed. However we cannot say the same about the application for new houses in Beehive Lane," said spokeswoman Debbie Lane-Stott.

"The site is within the Beehive Conservation Area, and opposite some well-spaced houses from the 1950s that are the archetype for much Garden City design.

READ MORE: Plans for new Welwyn Garden City homes next to historic pub

"However the planned new homes are of a completely different design. They would be fine for somewhere else, but not here.

"They are crammed together, which is totally different from the homes on the other side of the road. Furthermore, the so-called front gardens are just two parking spaces each, lacking greenery, and lacking a front hedge.

"We very much hope these plans are rejected and a much more sympathetic scheme is brought forward that would complement the homes opposite. The site is acceptable but the design is not."

The building that used to house The Beehive is Grade II-listed and dates back to the early 17th century.

Punters were left disappointed when the pub closed after almost 40 years of business in mid-2016, with Cooper's Grill House taking over until 2020 when that also closed.

Today, the building stands vacant and is not part of the application submitted.

Residents have already made objections to the plans, citing issues including a lack of provisions for threatened birds and car parking spaces.