Plans to turn a former library and headmaster's house into a house have been submitted to the council.

The two-storey building in Bearsted village has been derelict for five years after Kent County Council closed the library down.

It as an "important structure" in that part of the village and can be seen from the green.

The building, which was built in 1839 and has a sign declaring it the "National School for Bearsted, Thornham and Debtling", was recently sold for just over £700,000 by Clive Emson.

It was bought by the applicants who are now planning to turn the historic site into a "high quality" home.

A design statement for the plans says: "The building is effectively redundant and no longer usable for its’ public use and was sold accordingly.

"It is proposed that the important building be retained and converted into a high quality dwelling to be sold on the open market."

The building is not listed but is located close to a neighbouring listed dwelling, is adjacent to the listed parade of shops adjacent to the west of the site, and opposite the listed White Horse Public House.

Documents on the council's website explain how the buildings have been unused since the library closed five years ago and are "quickly falling in a major state of disrepair".

The current rear extension and storage shed behind the building is beyond repair and would be demolish for a new single-storey extension if plans are approved.

View the plans at here, with reference 22/503773/FULL.