A Grade II listed pub which has been operating in Bearsted since at least 1860 will be transformed into homes if a planning application is approved.

Proposals would see The Old Plantation Inn, in Plantation Lane, Bearsted, replaced by three residential dwellings, with one built in place of the existing building and two new two-storey properties constructed in other areas of the 0.24 hectare site.

The application, submitted to Maidstone Borough Council by Heritage Designer Homes Ltd who bought the building a year ago and is based in the village, also proposes demolishing just over a third of the current structure on the grounds that it is poor quality and not in keeping with the rest of the building.

Additionally the existing 30-space car park would be reduced in size to accommodate just six vehicles.

The freehouse is currently open to the public but is set to close after Christmas as the owners no longer see it as a viable business.

A campaign has been launched by Stephen Coomber to save the premises on the grounds that the arguments for the change of use are inaccurate.

Mr Coomber, of Willington Street, Bearsted, who has worked with previous managers of The Old Plantation, said: “The pub used to be a traditional meeting place where everyone from builders to barristers would go to drink.”

The 56-year-old business advisor, who has visited the pub since he moved to the village 22 years ago, added: “The applicant’s suggestion that the pub provides no different service to any other in the area is untrue. Only recently has it started moving towards food but it has always been very successful as a drinks-based business which makes it unique.”

Responding to suggestions the pub is not a viable business he cited the low tenancy cost and previous high turnover, adding: “I’m sure I could find a dozen people who would jump at the chance to take on the tenancy.”

Sue Nutting, who lives opposite the pub and has launched a petition to save it which will be presented to MBC, said: “Perhaps surprisingly, many of those in the immediate vicinity want the pub to remain as a public house. Large numbers of other Bearsted residents have also indicated their support.”

Mother-of-two Sally Stuart said: "The pub is one of the only ones left in the village to offer a safe and decent outside environment to take children, with a bit of work it could be hugely successful."

The 40-year-old from Port Close, Bearsted, added: "The figures provided for how much the pub has made in the past 12 months are not reliable as it is only open half the time."

“The pub used to be a traditional meeting place where everyone from builders to barristers would go to drink." — Stephen Comber

Steve Swift, a director of Heritage Designer Homes, said: “We engaged Porters Chartered Surveyors, a reputable Maidstone-based company which specialises in the valuation and sale of all types of licenced premises.

“It prepared a detailed report on the viability of The Old Plantation Inn and have carried out an assessment of the trading history of the premises for the period 2007 to 2011 and the most recent period from October 2013 to July 2014.

“The report concludes that the premises has not been trading profitably for some time and the most recent accounts that it operated at a loss of over £10K this excludes drawings, payments by the licensee and the fact that the rent has been reduced by 65% in order to keep it running for the short term.

“Whether or not planning permission is granted the pub will be closing after Christmas because it is no longer viable.”