Father-and-son developers behind contentious plans to demolish a derelict pub have revealed fresh drawings for the site – and will not take no for an answer.

The proposals to convert the former Plough Inn in Margate Road into a Co-op and five flats are set to be submitted to Canterbury City Council over the next month.

The site has been at the centre of controversy since developers Ralph and Alistair Noel revealed their original plan to build the convenience store and seven homes in May.

Council officers refused it, stating it was “harmful to the character and appearance of the area” because it was “poorly designed” and “visually incongruous”.

Alistair says the revised scheme has addressed the local authority’s worries and should, therefore, be granted.

If the local authority refuses it again, he has vowed to appeal the decision to the Planning Inspectorate.

“If it was rejected we’d take it to appeal because it’s a sensible scheme in a sensible location,” he said.

“It’ll be more sympathetic to the character of the area. We have addressed the issues the council’s had in the pre-application and we now expect it to pass through.

“It’s going to create 17 jobs and put to use a derelict building. It will put there something the community wants.”

Alistair added the proposals are in the “final stages” of being drawn up before they will be submitted to the council.

He says he came to the decision to demolish the building after he sought the advice of a structural engineer.

But, when they rejected the original scheme, the planning officers argued that the development would result in the “loss of a community facility” and the “unjustified loss” of a heritage site.

The ground floor of the pub was later gutted in a suspected arson attack in August.

“The council said we could refurbish it, but the fact of the matter is the ceiling’s caved in, the floor’s caved in and the shell of the building isn’t sound,” Mr Noel said.

“It’s not structurally sound in any way. The fire has worsened it a bit, but it’s not done anything too dramatic.

“The fire brigade thought someone might have gone in there, started the fire, panicked and then called them. There have been no further investigations into the fire.”

By lowering the number of homes on the site, the developer hopes to have eased the planning officers’ fears that the flats in the original scheme were of a “poor size and quality”.

“This frees up the area and makes sure it’s not quite so compact,” he said.

“The Co-op still wants to have a shop in the area. To be honest, we found that a lot of the locals want one in the area because it’s a convenience store that stays open until a late hour.”