Bid to transform 280-year-old pub into village homes

Boozer empty for two years set for houses

Plans have been revealed to flatten part of an empty pub dating back more than 280 years and transform it into housing. The Frog and Orange in Shatterling, near Canterbury, closed in January 2021 after owners Trevor and Laura Cumberland decided to spend more time with their family.

It sold at auction for about £454,000 - and now developers have launched a bid to convert the old boozer into two four- and five-bed homes.

In documents lodged with Dover District Council, developer Everland Property says: “The work would enhance the appearance of the building and ensure its traditional rural characteristics are retained. “We want to convert and extend the former public house to provide a five-bed dwelling, along with an extension to the existing cottage to provide a four-bed home.

“Part of the pub is proposed to be demolished to allow for appropriate segregation of the two dwellings.” Drawings show a new garage will also be erected, while the houses will also be equipped with studies.

The property, which sits on a 1.11-acre site, had become available in January 2021 after bosses decided to sell up. Auction firm Clive Emson predicted the plot may be suitable for development, subject to all necessary consents being obtainable.

Posting on their Facebook page at the time, the Cumberlands said: “The sign has gone up and we can now make it official that we are indeed looking to sell up. “We will be sad to say goodbye but this move is filled with lots of happy memories and some life-long friends who have become family forever.

“We made this decision in 2020 for a number of reasons, but mainly because we’ve enjoyed the freedom of having family time – even in a lockdown. “We’d love to take this opportunity to say thank you all, to all of you for the support you have given us over the 14 years we have been here.” Originally called the Green Man, records show the boozer which was formerly a farmhouse - dates back to 1740. It was not until 1996 that it was rebadged as the Frog and Orange. Council planners are expected to decide whether to give Everland Property’s vision for the site the green light by March. What do you think? Email kentishgazette@thekmgroup. co.uk

Plans have been lodged to turn the pub into two houses