A 19th century high street pub that has been empty for almost two decades could finally be restored to its “former glory”.

Plans have been submitted to transform the long-neglected White Lion in Cheriton, Folkestone, into a ground-floor cafe and 12 supported living suites.

The venue, which dates back to the 1850s, has been derelict since 2006 when it closed following a shocking incident in which an 18-year-old was shot.

Although the victim survived, the fallout from the incident led to The Shepherd Neame pub shutting its doors for good.

Since then, the site has fallen into serious disrepair, becoming what Folkestone and Hythe District Council (FHDC) described in 2023 as a “blight on the local area”.

Several redevelopment plans have been put forward over the years, but none have come to fruition.

The latest proposal, submitted by Mr Nicholas Brown, seeks to “breathe new life” into the site, retaining and refurbishing the existing building.

On the ground floor, a cafe would occupy the front of the building, with a single-storey rear extension planned to accommodate a kitchen.

Both the first and second floors would have six suites, each containing a bedroom, living area, kitchenette and private shower room.

The rear yard would be repurposed to provide parking for 18 cars and space for eight bicycles, as well as a small area for electricity generation and storage to power the suites.

The former pub has a prominent position on the corner of Cheriton High Street and Chilham Road, next to All Souls Church of England Primary School.

Hoardings and scaffolding are currently up around the building and work appears to be taking place.

In October 2023, FHDC served a Section 215 notice on the building’s owners, Kent County Homes Limited, demanding immediate improvements.

This included removing graffiti, clearing waste from the rear yard, repairing the roof and replacing missing brickwork, doors and guttering.

The notice gave the owners until November 2024 to comply or risk facing criminal charges.

Cllr Polly Blakemore, FHDC cabinet member for transport, regulatory services and building control at the time, said: “It’s unacceptable for the owners to leave it in this state for so long.”

Previous failed attempts to redevelop the site have included plans for student housing in 2007 and a home for ex-servicemen in 2017.

Most recently, in 2021, permission was granted to convert the site into supported living accommodation for adults with learning disabilities or autism.

But no work was undertaken and the pub’s condition continued to deteriorate.

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FHDC is expected to make a decision on the latest plans at the beginning of March.