‘It is clear this will never be a pub again’

Plans to overhaul a former village tavern into a home have been revived amid concerns it “will never be a pub again”. The Chapter Arms in Chartham Hatch, near Canterbury, shut in 2017, prompting a long battle to try and bring the now-derelict building back into use. But as a succession of schemes , including new housing and a pub building, fell flat, a fresh bid has been launched this month to breathe new life into the former Victorian inn.

It comes as more than 400 pubs in England and Wales permanently shut in 2024, with numerous in Kent succumbing to a multitude of pressures . The Chapter Arms’ previous owner, Alistair Noel, has sold the site to Bridge resident John Benner, who recently resurrected the housing scheme. Papers lodged to Canterbury City Council (CCC) have revealed the shuttered boozer could, once again, be converted into a four-bedroom home.



The 52-year-old referred to the site as “redundant”, writing: “The majority of the changes proposed are internal and only minor external works are proposed, albeit the footprint of the dwelling remains as it is. “The overriding feedback from all the people spoken to is that the local village wants the see the building restored, which the proposed residential use would achieve, rather than being a derelict eyesore on the edge of the village, which continues to deteriorate over time. “In the absence of the pub in the last eight years the local village hall has provided an excellent alternative local venue for many of the uses that were held at the pub.

” Mr Noel’s decision to sell the site came after hopes of a revamp were dashed by a planning inspector in 2023, who cited the failure of mitigating measures for the polluted Stodmarsh nature reserve near Canterbury – a sticking point for many developers. The city council had rejected the plan to fully convert the property into a four-bed house in 2021 on the grounds it would result in the loss of a community asset. Planning chiefs also said the owner had not fully demonstrated the business could no longer be viable.

Back then, the vision for the grounds of the old pub drew more than 100 objections from concerned villagers keen to keep the Chapter Arms running. However, this time around, the reaction has been much calmer, with just one letter of opinion sent to CCC coming out in support. Dr William Carey writes: “The property has remained in a semi-derelict state and unlived in for years now.

“It has been clear now for many years that it will never be a pub again (as seen elsewhere in the country with pubs closing down). “The building continues to deteriorate and be vandalised. “Therefore, the best option now is for it to be converted into a lovely private home which will benefit the village.

” CCC is expected to decide on the proposals later this year..