Villagers who slammed proposals to build a house on part of a boozer’s car park have celebrated the news it will not be going ahead.

Plans to erect a four-bedroom home behind the Sir John Falstaff, in Higham, between Gravesend and Strood, were submitted to the local authority in November.

However, council officers have rejected the application by Punch Pubs after more than 75 letters of objection were received – only two were submitted in support.

Concerns were raised by residents around the impact on the boozer’s history, building near the Green Belt, and how the rise in population would impact already stretched resources such as schools.

One comment said: “Keep it a village, not a housing estate.”

While another added: “This will be the demise of the historic building as a viable pub and restaurant.”

Those supporting the project praised the fact it was proposing to build a house and not a block of flats and there would still be a car park.

Objections were also received from the Dickens’ Country Protection Society, a ward councillor who deemed it an “unnecessary development” and the parish council.

In a letter, a Higham Parish Council spokesman said: “We feel it is in the best interest of our village and fellow residents to object to the planning application that has been submitted.

“Our councillors feel that additional buildings in the proposed location would dilute the character of the area and the historic importance and if this planning application was approved, it would set a precedent for similar infills of properties.”

In making their decision, council officers agreed the plans would “diminish the grandeur and historical significance of the listed building”.

Despite this, in its application, Punch Pubs said it thought the scheme would cause “less than substantial harm to the heritage significance”.

The Sir John Falstaff, in Gravesend Road, is a Grade II listed building and is believed to have been built in the late 18th or early 19th century.

Planning officers said the design was “very unsympathetic to the existing character” of the pub and criticised the lack of privacy for future residents which would “not provide acceptable living conditions”.

Although they stated the application was acceptable for parking, highway safety and contributed to the borough’s housing supply, it did not significantly outweigh the harm identified.

Higham resident Conor feared the application was part of a wider plan to eventually sell off the pub and covert it to housing, condemning it to a similar fate as two other former drinking holes.

The village only has two pubs left, including the nearby Chequers Inn in Church Street, which closed in 2008, and the Railway Tavern in Chequers Street which shut for good in 2014.

Both were later converted into residential properties despite opposition.

Speaking to KentOnline, Conor said he is pleased to see the local authority has dismissed the application.

He added: “I was very happy with the results, but it is a shame that the effort they went to with the plans was not used for the pub itself. It needs care and a good business plan.

“I am also glad that heritage played a big part in why the plans were stopped, it is important we protect and preserve it.”

His thoughts were echoed by the chairman of Higham Parish Council, John Grey, who said: “We welcome the fact that Gravesham council recognised the impact this development would have on the historical pub.

“We hope that the plan will end here. There is a lot of overdevelopment in Higham and we do not need any more.

“We need to protect and preserve it. We are working hard all the time to protect the village.”

Ward councillors for Higham and Shorne, Cllr Helen Ashenden (Con), Cllr Jordan Meade (Con) and Cllr Leslie Pearton (Con) also welcomed the news.

In a joint statement, they said: “We pledged to protect the ward from all inappropriate development and therefore we are pleased that this application has been declined. It is the right decision for Higham.”

In the submitted planning statement, Punch Pubs said the development would have ensured the business remained viable.

However, no further information on how the plans or the money raised from the new build would specifically help secure and shape the pub’s future was given.

A spokesperson said: “We are disappointed with the local authority’s decision and are considering the options available to us.”