A prominent pub dating back to the 1860s is set to be knocked down and turned into flats and a micropub.

The original designs for The Old House at Home, on the Isle of Sheppey, were slammed by councillors in May who described them as "boring" and "cheap" but they have since been reworked.

The pub, previously owned by Shepherd Neame, occupies a prominent position at the junction of High Street and Trinity Way and has been serving pints for at least 150 years.

However, it closed its doors for the final time in 2020.

It had repeatedly come to the attention of the authorities due to “anti-social behaviour, substance abuse and numerous other infringements of the licensing regulations”.

It has sat empty ever since and plans to redevelop the site were submitted last year by Mr M McAllister.

A statement backing the plans said: “There has been a gradual decline in the number of pubs in Sheerness partly due to a shift in culture, the introduction of national chains such as Wetherspoon and a move away from Sheerness’s association as a naval town.”

The proposals include demolishing the pub and replacing it with a three and four-storey residential building – slightly higher than the original plan – including eight flats and a micropub on the ground floor.

But when debating the plans earlier this year, Swale councillors were concerned about the design of the flats and voted to defer the application.

At a Swale council planning committee meeting earlier this month, new designs were considered that had a more traditional appearance in the use of wholly brick elevations, traditional window detailing and a mansard roof, which has four sloping sides.

The application report adds: “The proposal is considered to be of good design and more reflective of the traditional form of development within the high street that members were keen to be adopted for the scheme.”

The original scheme featured seven flats but the redesign saw the addition of an extra one, as the remodelled roof meant there was more floorspace.

Despite its Victorian history, the pub is not historically listed or in any conservation area but planning officers stated: “Its long-standing contribution to the local community through the provision of a public house has resulted in the building having some historic value.

“However, the creation of a micropub on the ground floor of the new proposed building will help to ensure that the site retains a public house on the site, which will be of continued benefit to the wider locality.”

Committee member Cllr Cameron Beart, who represents Queenborough and Halfway, said he was not convinced a micropub would ever open, predicting it was more likely to be used as a shop or something else.

His suggestion to add a condition that anything of historical interest found during the demolition work should not only be examined and recorded, but also retained rather than end up in a skip, was accepted.

The amended plan was approved unanimously by councillors, who met at Swale House on August 18.

There was no comment from Sheerness Town Council.

Previously, its chairman, Matthew Brown, who is no longer a town councillor, said he was completely against the scheme.

He said: “I would be strongly opposed to the destruction of this landmark building as it goes against the town’s character and long term aims.

“It’s become a bit of an eyesore in this area but there needs to be a very strong argument put forward before any consideration is given to demolishing a building with so much character.”

If a micropub does open, it would be the third in Sheerness, joining The Flying Sheep and A Y’s Man Free House.