A popular Indian restaurant could soon be demolished and replaced by retirement flats - if plans are given the green light.

Spice Lounge has provided sit down meals and takeaway curries for those living in Coxheath for years but the restaurant's future remains in the balance.

Maidstone Borough Council received a planning application to knock down the restaurant in Heath Road and build 14 apartments for those aged 55 and over in its place.

A previous proposal submitted by the developer had been refused in September 2018 because the development was held to appear “isolated, incongruous and out of scale in its setting, unrelated to existing development fronting Heath Road to the west and failing to contribute in providing a sense of enclosure or sense of place to this part of Coxheath”.

Changes have now been made to make sure the fronts of any new build would fit in with its surroundings and landscaping would be an option due to any apartments being set back from Heath Road.

So far 11 people have objected to the plans, submitting comments to MBC's planning portal.

Ann Read wrote: "The development is too large for the site, it's visual appearance will impact on the church and other neighbouring buildings.

"The design is poor and the density is too large for a site of this size. Parking provision is not realistic. In addition this is a community asset that needs to be protected.

"There is no other venue in the village for night time socialising. The public house promised at the Londis site has never been enforced, and now this building which is formerly a public house is planned to be demolished.

"The village is growing in size and this development strips us of even more village assets for housing that is not needed as other retirement properties with better accessibility and parking provision are left empty."

The building currently on site was previously used as a pub and was known as “The Bell”.

At some point between 2004 and 2010 the premises were converted to a restaurant which was initially known “Stocketts”.

Permission was granted in 2010 for the conversion of the former attached garage to provide additional seating for the current restaurant which was by then operating as Spice Lounge.

The plans will be discussed at the next planning committee meeting.

To read more about the plans click here or search for reference 19/501775/FULL.

For more Maidstone stories click here.