A community-owned village pub can extend its shop and create a servery hatch to allow for outdoor service and takeaway collection.

Plans approved by South Kesteven District Council will also allow the provision of a portable lockable exterior shop storage unit and the relocation of existing oil storage tank.

The pub, previously known as the Thorold Arms, was bought by the villagers of Marston and Hougham in 2018 after several years of campaigning and fundraising.

The venture, then rebranded The Thorold, to reflect a revamp, opened prior to Christmas 2019, with a post office and shop opening soon after.

The application from Sandra Allen, secretary of the Thorold Arms Community Benefit Society Ltd, will see the pub part of the Thorold increase from 254m2 to 258m2, but more significantly, the shop increase from 12.5m2 to 22.5m2.

No comments were received by the district council following its advertisement of the application.

The report by council planning staff continued: "Although the site is opposite a grade II Listed Building, the small scale of the proposed changes, together with their location at the rear of the site and the separation distance means that the proposal would not significantly affect the setting of the listed building.

"Similarly, although all of the extension to the building, the storage unit and the relocated fuel tank would be visible from public vantage points along School Lane, given their small scale, and locations at the rear of the site, their visual impact would be very minor, and would not be harmful to the character of the area.

"By virtue of the design, scale and materials to be used, the proposal would be in keeping with the, streetscene and surrounding context in accordance with [local and national planning policies]."