An application to turn a village pub into a home, with a further two detached properties on its grounds, was approved last night.

Maidstone Borough Council’s Planning Committee met at the Town Hall on Thursday to discuss the future of the Old Plantation Inn, in Bearsted, and voted in favour of the application.

Heritage Designer Homes Ltd is behind the plans for the grade II listed pub, which dates from the 15th century, and is now boarded up.

The plans were first submitted in September and the pub has since closed its doors, with a lack of customers given as the reason.