A pub once favoured by German dissident writer Uwe Johnson has fallen foul of Swale planners.

Owner Paul Newton wants to convert the first floor and loft of the Napier at the junction of Marine Parade and Alma Road, Sheerness, into three one-bedroom flats.

He also wants to add three dormer windows, create roof terraces and install a three-storey staircase outside the back of the building.

There are also plans to make changes to the inside of the pub and restaurant on the ground floor.

But councillors turned him down when they heard the development was within flood zone 3 and the Environment Agency had objected because there had been no flood risk assessment.

Officers warned members on Tuesday : "This could give rise to significant and unacceptable risk to human life in the event of flooding."

They added: "The design of the development, namely the dormer windows and external staircase, would cause significant harm to the character and appearance of the area."

The report said: "The proposal in its entirety would harm the character and appearance of the building by adding additional built clutter and volume. The proposal, particularly with regards the dormer windows proposed, would not just harm the appearance of the building itself but would compromise the character of the wider street scene where there are no dormer windows present in the immediate or local setting."

Councillors heard a flood report had been requested but officers had been told none would be forthcoming.

Cllr Lee McCall (Ind, Sheerness) said the site was "unsightly" and Cllr James Hunt (Con, The Meads) added: "I am disappointed the applicant refused to give the information officers requested."

Mr Newton tried to speak at the virtual meeting but councillors could not hear him. So a statement was read where he said the staircase would not impact the view from the road and he was not changing the look of the pub.

Councillors voted 15 to one to refuse the application.

Linda Brinklow, a member of Sheerness Town Council, supported the scheme but said safe cycle storage and an electric charging point should be included and at least one of the flats should be reserved for a teacher or NHS worker.

A separate development is being built on the site next to the pub.

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