A DEVELOPER is planning to turn a village pub into a restaurant to give it a 'fighting chance of survival'.

The Red Cow pub in Wooburn Green was closed in March by former owners Greene King, which put the freehold on the market for £320,000.

Local developer Richard Potyka confirmed he has bought the pub, but says he intends to keep it as a licensed premises, rather than create housing on the site.

He has submitted a planning application to extend the premises at the back and 'open it up to the garden'.

He told Wycombe District Council in the planning documents: “The intention is to carry out a sensitive refurbishment of the existing property ensuring that all period details are retained.

“The present economic climate has resulted in a large percentage of public houses being closed down. The proposed extension is required to give The Red Cow a fighting chance for survival.”

The owner of RAP Building & Developments told the Bucks Free Press he is looking to open it as a “restaurant or a gastro-type pub”.

You can view the extension plans through the link below.

The council is still considering Mr Potyka's plans to build a care home on land off Clapton Approach in Wooburn Green (see link below), while he has also proposed three new homes on Furlong Road in Bourne End.