Work to construct a 75-bed care home on the site of an illegally demolished pub has stopped after contractors prematurely started work.

Diggers were spotted beginning initial works to build the facility, where the former Battle of Britain in Northfleet once stood, last week.

However, it is now understood the contractors have been asked to pause temporarily as not all the planning conditions have been met to allow construction.

Cllr Shane Mochrie-Cox, ward councillor for Coldharbour and Perry Street, told KentOnline: “It did prematurely start. We did ask it to stop and it has stopped.

“It has not quite discharged all the planning conditions and given the site’s history, this has to follow the rules.

“Workers are on site doing what they can and it might not take too long and then they can start construction.”

The site has been empty since 2016 when the historic boozer was demolished without permission by the previous owners in what was put down as a "communication error" — a move which angered residents.

It caused further outrage when council officers told the workers to stop, only to be ignored.

In the end, the council was forced to allow the complete demolition of the pub because it was structurally unsafe.

The site in Coldharbour Road was then earmarked to be turned into 20 homes after plans were approved two years ago but the land was sold before this could come to fruition.

New owners Frontier Estates then submitted plans to Gravesham council to build a 65-bedroom care home in December 2022.

Councillors approved the scheme in June last year stating there was a need for this sort of care in the borough and it would help free up the existing housing supply.

An amended application was then submitted and decided upon in March to increase the number of beds to 75.

Cllr Mochrie-Cox added: “A care home is far better than having an empty space and there is a need for this care, look at the success of ellenor.

“There is less resistance to it but the pub should not have been knocked down. However, the new owners are not the old owners.”

Gravesend resident Tina Brooker formally led a residents’ group which pushed for more information following a series of inconsistencies around the pub.

She has now said that although the land is not being used as they once hoped she thinks something did need to happen.

Mrs Brooker added: “It needs to be developed so it is not a dumping ground but it would have been nice to have had what the people wanted like bungalows.

“A care home is better than high-rise flats. You have to make the best of what you can.”

Simply Develop UK Ltd, owner of Morar Living which is the proposed operator of the facility, said it is delighted that it will be bringing forward the plans soon.

A spokesman added: “We are excited to bring forward this best-in-class care home which should be complete in quarter four of 2025 and will bring 75 much-needed, high-quality beds to the local community.

“We have taken time to ensure the planning process has generated the very best form of development for the site and would like to place on record our thanks to the Gravesham council planning team in this regard.”

The three-storey facility will be dual registered and provide nursing and residential care on-site.

It will have 27 car parking spaces, cycle storage, an activity room, four dining rooms, a private dining room, three lounges, a family room, a seating area, a hair and beauty salon and staff rooms.

It is not yet known when construction work will start again.