Plans to transform a landmark Winkfield pub into a brand-new village eatery and housing development have been granted following the completion of its demolition.

The Squirrels pub and restaurant, located on North Road, was demolished this week (15/8) after closing its doors in 2017.

After years of proposed and amended plans, the developers have been granted permission to start building works in the village.

According to the latest Design and Access statement outlined in the planning application, the site currently occupied by the redundant pub will be replaced with an equivalent pub with four two-bedroom flats on the upper levels.

Although there are uncertainties about the survival of another eatery, developers have said that they are ‘giving it every encouragement as the existing property’ and that they ‘hope it can survive’.

The proposed opening hours for the proposed new pub will be Midday to 11 pm Sunday to Thursday and midday to 1 am on Friday and Saturday.

These were supposedly the opening hours of the previous Squirrels pub.

Most of the parking for the pub (excluding accessible spaces near the entrance) is proposed to be on the existing car park site to the N.E. of Squirrel Lane.

According to locals, The Squirrels pub has been a popular meeting place for people throughout the area and those frequenting the polo.

The decision to demolish the existing pub and build a new site was due to the size and shape of the building.

Developers said: “The existing building would be awkward to convert as it is relatively long and narrow so we propose to replace it with something equivalent but more practical to accommodate 4 2 bed. flats above a new pub/restaurant on the ground floor.”

Proposals have said however that if the restaurant does fail the building design allows for possible alternative change of use into perhaps an office or more flats.

The new entrance will be at the side of the property nearer to the car park and provide a wrap-around glazed canopy with a larger paved area by the main entrance.

Three five-bedroom detached homes have also been granted building permissions to be built on the adjacent site with subsequent parking.