A VACANT historic pub building in Bournemouth will be knocked down and replaced with a block of nearly 30 flats if a developer’s plans are approved.

The former Horse and Jockey pub in Wimborne Road, most recently known as The Smoking Outlaw, has been lying empty for around two years and is a target for vandalism and anti-social behaviour.

Developers Dreamland Bournemouth has submitted proposals to demolish the pub and build 28 flats, 21 of which would be one-bedroom and seven two-bedroom.

The new development would be larger and a storey higher in parts than the current two-storey pub building.

A statement by agents Pure Town Planning explains that keeping the building as a pub is not viable. “The owner of the public house has tried for several years to make the existing use a viable option, with different managers being employed from time to time. Each manager has initiated different proposals to generate income and make the use a viable option, however each proposal has failed.

“Despite local opposition to the closure of public houses, without a steady flow of custom, public houses such as the Horse & Jockey will find it impossible to be maintained as a viable business, hence the public house has been closed for many months.”

The Smoking Outlaw was put up for sale only a year after it opened.

The pub previously operated as the Horse and Jockey and had a history dating back to 1841.

While some people believe the name derives from the nearby Ensbury Park Racecourse (which was open briefly during the 1920s), the Horse and Jockey predated the course by decades at least.

According to Pure Town Planning, when the pub was open it was “frequented by individuals prone to undesirable behaviour, which led to some anti-social problems occurring within the locality”.

The proposed development could have a double-storey car park area offering 27 spaces and 28 spaces for bicycles.

The plans are with Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council.