The grade two Red Cow Hotel has been empty for more than seven years, despite attempts by villagers to come up with suitable regeneration schemes.

But owner Chris Bateman and his company Gravity Design now want to start work on the site and he attended a Donington Parish Council meeting to gauge councillors' reactions to his plans.

He wants to turn the ground floor of the building into commercial units, with space for local amenities such as a doctors' surgery at the front and retail units at the rear.

He said: "Commercial retail is definitely needed for the village.

"When people first come into the village they go through some wealthy areas but it goes a bit wrong when they get to the centre of the High Street, which is an eyesore."

Councillors were pleased with the direction in which Mr Bateman appears to be moving after he originally planned to turn the building into a residential only complex.

Chairman Chris Hall said: "I think you have hit the nail on the head with what the village needs, which is more retail units. Your initial ideas are spot on."

Gravity Design is now the outright owner of the building, which had been subject to an auction in Manchester in July that failed to attract a buyer.

Mr Bateman had originally attempted to work with Improving Donington's Environment for All (IDEA) on a scheme to transform the site, but it fell through due to lack of funds.

What do you think about the plans for the Red Cow? Write to the editor or e-mail nick.woodhead@jpress.co.uk