The site of a former bank could become a Domino’s takeaway in a town dubbed Kent's "most stylish".

Bosses at the pizza giant want to convert the former Lloyds branch in Tenterden high street which has sat empty for years.

The building, which lies between Fat Face and Mastercutters, has been vacant since 2017 after becoming one of four Kent casualties in a wave of cuts.

It comes as a survey named Tenterden the county's "most stylish" place to live thanks to its historic buildings and popularity with film crews.

The result came from a new survey of 5,000 people by online store Furniturebox which ranked locations across the UK.

Last year, planning permission was granted to separate the top two floors of the ex-Lloyds building from the ground floor – with a new entrance at first floor level – to create office spaces that are currently vacant.

Now, Domino's has applied for permission to turn the ground floor into a takeaway, complete with a kitchen, dry store, customer area and ventilation.

Planning documents submitted to Ashford Borough Council state any alterations to the exterior of the building would be "minimal" – although signage is yet to be planned, awaiting a separate application.

The news has prompted a mixed reaction among residents, visitors and shopkeepers, with some raising concerns over the suitability of the move for the town, which Furniturebox praised for its "vibrant high street".

Having been rated on factors such as beauty of the buildings, scenery, popularity with artists and use as a filming location, Tenterden saw off competition from Chilham, Penshurst, Canterbury and Chiddingstone in the survey.

In its results, Furniturebox said: “A great market town located in the heart of the Weald, Tenterden is surrounded by glorious countryside and boasts a vibrant high street with many independent businesses.”

The area has long been home to popular winemaker Chapel Down and the historic Kent and East Sussex Railway.

Alongside these attractions, Tenterden’s use in television and film helped it gain its title.

The railway featured in the 1996 blockbuster Jude starring Kate Winslet, 1995 comedy Cold Comfort Farm and was more recently seen in Downton Abbey.

In the national list of the most stylish places, the town came out 19th, with Lavenham in Suffolk ranked first in the UK.

Reacting to the Domino’s move, resident Jane Wilson says she thinks there is a “need to keep Tenterden as Tenterden”.

“I’m just not convinced that the bank is the right place for it – both in terms of the lovely old building and the location in the high street,” she said.

“We take such pride in our independent shops, cafes and restaurants, and I just worry that this will affect all of them.”

“It’s certainly better than an empty shop, put it that way...”

Sarah James, who is a regular visitor to town from her home in Kingsnorth, added: “Tenterden has something that brings people like me in from miles away, and it’s not chain stores or the same takeaways you see in every town.

“Tenterden has something different and while I don’t have a problem with Domino’s at all, it doesn’t seem like a good fit.

“Speaking purely as an Ashford resident, if I want a chain restaurant or takeaway, the furthest I have to go is the Designer Outlet. If I wanted a Domino’s, realistically I could stay at home, why would I come to Tenterden for it?”

However, the concerns are not shared by all, with business owner Emma Pinfold, of designer store Bond Street Boutique, describing it as “a real positive for the high street”.

“It’s certainly better than an empty shop, put it that way. I know it’s been a huge success in Cranbrook – people were concerned about it there but it has been great,” she added.

“It’s all positive, I’d rather have something in there thriving than to keep it as an empty and derelict shop.”

This is the second Lloyd’s bank that the pizza giant is eyeing up in the south Kent area, with plans already in place to open in New Romney.

The branch in the town’s high street shut in November last year despite the community's efforts to keep what was the area’s last bank open.

A decision on the New Romney application is expected no later than July 17.