A plan to demolish the Grade II-listed Church Inn on Bury New Road, Whitefield, has been put on hold.

Heritage officials have been given extra time by Bury Council to consider new information submitted by the developer seeking to raze the building to the ground.

A spokesman for the the Victorian Society said: "Spot-listed in April, 2005, the Church Inn is recognised as being nationally significant because of its well-designed 1911 exterior and high-quality interior fixtures and fittings.

"This recognition should place its preservation beyond doubt, yet the Inn's location in the middle of a large site proposed for redevelopment, has led developers to press ahead with plans to knock it down."

Edward Kitchen, Northern Architectural Adviser of the Society, said: "We're grateful to the council for giving us time to respond.

"The proposed demolition of a listed building is a very serious matter and needs to be considered extremely carefully. The wrong decision could set a dangerous precedent."

He added: "We welcome the regeneration of Whitefield, but remain to be convinced of the need for the Church Inn's demolition. Ultimately, the developer must show that exceptional circumstances justify the loss of this important building."

A decision about the Church Inn's future will now be made by Bury Council on January 23, once comments from the Victorian Society, the Georgian Group, the Ancient Monuments Society, English Heritage, and the Council for British Archaeology have been received.