Plans have been submitted to Ashford Borough Council to knock down an historic pub to make way for more flats near to the town centre.

The derelict Prince Albert pub has been closed since 2008, and was gutted by fire in 2014.

But now, developers have pub forward demolition plans for the formerly listed Georgian building to be replaced with a block of modern flats.

Applicant Whitehaven Estates Limited have put forward a scheme which proposes 14 two-bedroom apartments, 14 car parking spaces, bin and cycle storage and a plant area on the ground floor, and 900 sq ft of ground floor commercial space, which could be used for shop or office space.

The plans state: “The site lies within the Ashford Urban Area in a highly sustainable location, close to the town centre, local services and public transport links including Ashford International Railway Station...

“The site is adjacent to listed buildings. However, the poor and deteriorating condition of these buildings means that their removal and replacement with the high quality development proposed will improve the setting of the adjacent buildings.

“Fourteen additional residential units will help to contribute towards Ashford Borough’s five year housing supply deficit.”

The old public house was previously known as the Prince of Orange then the Prince Albert, and locally as The Three Ones, because it sits on 111 New Street.

The pub was closed in 2008 following years of problems with underage drinking.

The site was de-listed from the Grade II register by Historic England on the May 10 2016 ‘as little of the historically significant fabric remained’.