A former town centre bank is set to become a shop under new plans.

One of the brains behind Tenterden's London Beach Hotel is looking to convert the former Barclay's building in the high street to accommodate a retail shop.

The plans, which include a two-bed flat above the shop, will see the front of the building transformed with new windows, to bring light to the flat.

The existing rear fire exit from the ground floor will be utilised as the entrance for the first floor flat. A new partition will be provided to separate the ground floor from the access to the apartment above.

Tenterden Town Council commented on the planning application to indicate its support, with conditions. The authority wants to see the building "retain its character" and any changes, including the instillation of windows, be consulted on by a council conservation officer.

The plans have been submitted on behalf of Pierre Edmonds, who co-owns the prestigious 25-room London Beach Hotel in Ashford Road.

They come just eight months after Barclays shut its doors in the town for the final time in February, with a replacement van service coming to Glebe Hall car park in Church Road twice a month.

The branch defended its decision to close by citing figures that state a total of 84% of branch customers “also use other ways to do their banking”. It said customers using other ways to do their banking has increased by 10% since 2015.

The bank also claimed just 115 customers use the branch exclusively for their banking.

This would not be the first old bank building in the town to be converted this year.

Five months ago, work was completed on a long-awaited Specsavers branch that opened in the former HSBC building down the High Street.