The site of an illegally demolished pub could be turned into a care home.

The Battle of Britain in Northfleet was earmarked to be turned into 20 homes after plans were approved two years ago but the land has since been sold.

The original building was illegally knocked down in 2016, a move which angered a lot of local residents.

It has sat empty since but now property investment company Frontier Estates is developing proposals for a care home for the elderly instead.

The plans are still in the early stages and the firm is looking for involvement from the community in shaping the final development.

Councillor for Coldharbour ward Shane Mochrie-Cox said: "I got a leaflet through the door like all the other residents have had. From what I have heard people do not really object to a care home.

"Whatever goes there should not impact local residents or cause tensions. It has just got to work for the community."

He added some people have already raised concerns with the height of the proposed building, the design and possible parking problems.

A spokesman for Frontier Estates said: "Frontier Estates are developing proposals for a new care home for the elderly having recently purchased the former Battle of Britain public house site in Northfleet.

"The proposals seek to effectively re-use a vacant site to deliver high quality, en-suite accommodation for the elderly. This will have the capability to deliver much needed nursing and residential care including the provision of dementia-specific care."

Residents were left furious in 2016 when bulldozers arrived and started to tear the historic boozer down without permission. This was put down to a "communication error".

It caused further outrage when council officers told the workers to stop, only to be ignored.

In the end the council was forced to allow the complete demolition of the pub because it was structurally unsafe.

Last year, the local authority issued a maintenance notice, known as a section 215, ordering that the poor state of the plot be addressed.

It said it was taking action against the land owner due to squalid conditions including dumped rubbish, damaged fence banners and overgrown vegetation.

A decision over a planning bid to build more than two dozen homes on the site was originally deferred but a revised proposal including fewer homes was subsequently approved in December 2020 before the land was sold.

New developers are now considering building a care home although a planning application is yet to be made to Gravesham council.

The Battle of Britain pub was built by RAF personnel to commemorate Gravesend being the first RAF station to operate the American P-51 Mustang III fighter-bomber.

A public exhibition – to discuss the new plans – will be running today from 1.30pm to 7.30pm at St Mary's Church of England, Wrotham Road, Gravesend, DA11 7LL.

If you are unable to attend but want more information contact Laura at laura@gillingsplanning.co.uk.