Building of a new family pub at Neats Court could begin early next month.

Pub retailer Marston’s has submitted a planning application for land across the road from the existing Poundland, Iceland, B&M Bargains and Sports Direct stores which is now being considered.

It includes an expected start date of October 5. Other details in the application also include flood prevention, surface water drainage and the suppression of dust during the construction.

A spokesman for the national chain said the pub will be named the Four Bridges, believed to be a reference to the four crossings which have spanned the Swale over the years.

He added it will be a carvery and there will be seating for as many as 150 customers. There should be some 40 jobs created by the new business.

The pub is part of Phase 2C of the overall Neats Court retail park project in Queenborough, which was approved by Swale council’s planning department in August.

As well as the pub, which has space for an outdoor area, there will also be a two-storey building which can be used for offices and industrial use and three single-storey units which can be used for shops or restaurants.

There are still two vacant shops out of the buildings which
were built as part of earlier phases of the project.

Giles Haywood, of LXB Retail Properties, the developer behind Neats Court, said: “We are in discussions with some retailers on the empty units.

“We are confident of letting out these units in the next three to four months.

“They are national retailers and they are committed to the scheme but obviously we need to conclude the legal side of things first.”