Plans have been unveiled to build seven new flats next to a popular fish and chip shop and pub.

A planning application has been submitted for land alongside the Fish Inn in South Ashford, which also houses Crusader Kebab.

The site, previously known as The Crusader pub, still houses a bar inside.

Shen Ufuk, of Seku Properties of Sellindge, is seeking to place four one- and three two-bedroom homes on a car park next to the site in Brookfield Road.

More space would be made for the flats by demolishing a garage extension and getting rid of a redundant cafe space.

A report by application agents RDA Architects, of Smeeth, said: “The applicant/owner has decided to make better use of the already mixed-use site by redeveloping part of it with more residential use to reflect the predominantly residential area it is within.

“The proposal makes better use of the cafe space and requires its removal facilitating much-needed housing in the district.”

RDA explained most of the large car park is not needed as it was originally for the pub.

Now fewer spaces are taken up by short-stay takeaway customers, staff and the flat’s occupants.

The Fish Inn no longer has a dining area in the takeaway unit and there is a click-and-collect service.

A two-bedroom home above the takeaways, which has a separate tenancy from the businesses below, would be kept if redevelopment takes place.

This would lead to a total of eight flats on the site if planning permission is granted by Ashford Borough Council.

The new flats, in a block separate from the takeaway building, would have parking spaces for both cars and bicycles plus landscaping.

Four flats would have gardens and three would have balconies.

Trees and other landscaping would be added to improve the environment.

The existing building was constructed in the 1960s.

The Crusader closed in 2010 and was replaced by the Fish Inn which remains open as a pub. The cafe had been opened before the pandemic but lockdowns saw that side of the business struggle.