A bid to convert a ramshackle former hotel and its surrounding land into 19 homes has been unveiled.

Developers have submitted plans to Swale Borough Council to transform the Grade II-listed Garden Hotel in The Street, Boughton-under-Blean, near Faversham.

They want the hotel building to become three homes, with a further 16 houses on the remaining 0.75-hectare site, which is the size of almost one-and-a-half football pitches.

The application states: “The former hotel building continues to deteriorate the longer it is left undeveloped.

“It features as one of the listed buildings at risk in the borough.

“Given that it forms a prominent feature in the Boughton street conservation area, its continued deterioration is a matter of concern to both the borough council and parish council.”

Plans state the building - which dates back to the 17th century - would be split into three homes at its “natural division points utilising the existing structural spaces, levels and historical entrances”.

The development of the hotel building, which dates back to the 17th century, will not appear cramped or out of character with the surrounding area, the application adds.

The hotel closed in 2005, having failed to be sustainable and the building has remained unused since.

In 2008, planning permission was granted to turn it into 10 homes and some work was completed, including stripping out most of the historic interior fabric. But the scheme ultimately proved to be “economically unviable” and the land was marketed and sold in April 2018.

Applicants Altimat Property bought the land on the basis of “progressing a better-informed enabling scheme” to restore the former hotel building.

Access to the site is via a carriageway through it, which the developers consider to be “difficult and possibly a little dangerous” for intensive use by vehicles. Instead, they want to upgrade the existing access to a neighbouring chapel that already connects with the hotel parking area.

The former hotel car park accommodated 30 car spaces but the proposed development has parking for 37, including four for visitors.

To view the application, visit Swale Borough Council’s planning portal and search 22/501620/LBC.