A WINTERBOURNE pub and a former school could both be redeveloped for housing.
The Swan in Winterbourne High Street (pictured above) could be demolished and replaced with six homes, while 83 could be built at the derelict Silverhill School site in Swan Lane.
Both sites have been bought by Ben Francis, owner of Ben’s Tiles & Reclamations.
He bought The Swan, which is believed to date back to the early 17th century, in early September and has put hoardings up around the building.
Ben told the Voice the pub is not listed and he plans to apply for planning permission to demolish it and build on the site.
He said: “The redevelopment will be potentially for six three-bedroomed homes.
“I’m waiting to hear back from the council before submitting planning and have a few more surveys to do.”
83 homes for old school site
Ben also owns the neighbouring 9.5 acre site of the former Silverhill independent school, which once had around 200 children on its roll but closed in 2020, with the loss of 55 jobs.
The site was also subject to an arson attack in July last year, which badly damaged some of the buildings.
Ben said he intended to submit a planning application to build 83 homes at the end of September, in a separate development to the Swan, which closed its doors in March this year.
He said: “The Swan was haemorrhaging money.
“It’s had five landlords in the last five years – they can’t make it sustainable as a pub – something’s got to be done with it.
“Unfortunately, the pub is closed but there is no asset there as a pub any more – if people don’t use it, it won’t work.”