A former working men’s club could be replaced with two blocks of flats after bosses rejected an offer from Starbucks.

Ashford International Sports and Social Club, on the corner of Beaver Road and Norman Road, was set to be demolished to make way for 31 flats under plans submitted in 2021.

However, the designs were rejected in September 2022, with one councillor saying “if there was an Olympic sport for boring architecture this would be getting a gold medal”.

Now a new proposal submitted by Yellowstone 2023 Ltd to Ashford Borough Council (ABC) has seen the number of flats increase to 34.

The plans rejected two years ago included a replacement club facility, with the flats added to secure the future of the club, bosses explained at the time.

But after the scheme was thrown out by ABC amid concerns over the height of the flats, the club sold the site to Yellowstone 2023 Ltd, which is part of Sidcup-based developer Blackstone Estates.

Planning documents reveal how Starbucks was interested in building a drive-thru coffee shop on the land as it says there is an “ongoing requirement” for one in the area.

It had offered £936,000 subject to planning approval, but Yellowstone’s offer of £711,500 was accepted “on the basis of a quick sale”.

The company is now proposing a scheme of 34 flats across two four-storey buildings with 38 parking spaces, but its scheme does not include a replacement clubhouse.

Former club secretary Chris Dorsett says he wishes the applicants well with their bid.

“Apart from the absence of the new clubhouse the application looks fairly similar to our refused application,” he said.

“I just hope if the councillors on the current planning committee are the same members who refused our plans, they realise their views stopped several hundred members from retaining a much-loved social club in Ashford.”

He said the official dissolution of the club, which had occupied that site for more than a century, is still in progress.

In its application, Yellowstone says its scheme has “evolved evolved in terms of design focus since the previous refusal”.

“The proposal now shows a reduction in height, proposing two three-storey buildings,” it says.

“The fourth storey is also set back from the main building facade, which reduces the overall mass and reduces impact on the street scenes.”

An application to demolish the building, which used to be called Ashford Working Men's Club, was approved in November last year, but has not been carried out yet.

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It is not yet known when ABC will decide on the bid, but a deadline of February 12 has been set.

As it is a live application, the authority declined on Mr Dorsett’s concerns.