THE owners of a boarded-up city centre pub in Southampton have put it up for sale with planning consent for five flats for £250,000.

The Wellington Pub Company, which owns the Lord Palmerston pub, right, in Palmerston Road, got planning consent to demolish the building for a three-storey block of five flats after failing to find a new tenant after it closed in 2009.

Josette Tucker, from Vail Williams which is marketing the property, said: “The property is very close to Southampton Solent University and would be ideal as student accommodation. This is an excellent investment opportunity in the centre of Southampton.”

The pub, once popular with Saints fans, was run by well known city landlord Steve Dockrell, 55, who died suddenly from meningitis three years ago.