A FORMER pub and warehouse in Colchester’s Hythe have sold for close to £1million.

The Grade II listed Rising Sun pub, in Hythe Station Road, and the Maponite building, in Hawkins Road, were put on the market a year ago.

The Maponite building was used as a warehouse by Williams and Griffin until it relocated to Severalls Business Park in September.

The pub, which opened in 1789, has been closed for about 20 years.

Chartered surveyors Whybrow has been marketing both buildings.

A private company has bought the property but Whybrow would not confirm the details.

However, a number of developers had shown interest in the site, which totals 27,400 sq ft.

It was being marketed with the potential to be turned into flats.

The buildings are 40 metres from Colchester’s Hythe train station.

The buyer may not necessarily have to demolish either of the buildings as the structure is sound.

Cyril Thomas, chairman of regeneration group Hythe Forward, welcomed the purchase.

He said: "In my opinion, yes there is probably going to be some sort of housing on there but I would like to see a mixed use to maintain some sort of vibrancy at that place.

"It is a key location and much more needs to be done to take into account of the opportunities there and its proximity to the station."

Save Britain’s Heritage and the Colchester and North-East Essex Building Preservation Trust campaigned for work to be carried out at the former Rising Sun three years ago, but it remained boarded up.

The site was originally put on the market for £1.1million but the price was dropped to £900,000.