Residents are making a last-ditch effort to prevent more than two-dozen homes being built on the site of an illegally demolished pub.

The dismantling of the Battle of Britain, Coldharbour Road, Northfleet, in October, sparked outrage across the community.

A campaign group was launched in an attempt to force landowner JT Davies & Sons to rebuild it.

Gravesham council turned down the group’s bid to have the pub listed as a community asset and has now received an application from planning consultancy the Caldecotte Group, acting on behalf of the landowner, to build 25 flats and houses.

The proposal includes eight one-bed flats, four two-bed flats,

A three-bed flat, three two-bed houses, and nine three-bed houses, plus 44 parking spaces, bike storage, gardens, and vehicle access on to New House Lane.

Almost 20 letters of objection had been written to the council by the time the Messenger went to print, with many of them sent in by members of the Battle of Britain Community Group.

Campaigner Tina Brooker, of The Warren, Gravesend, spearheads the group and said people were still just as aggrieved about the pub’s fate as they were when it was torn down more than six months ago.

She said: “They knew what they were doing when they tore down that pub and they took away the public’s voice.

“Residents are still as angry today as they were when it first happened and about the way the whole operation has been handled.

“From the residents’ point of view, they’re just hoping now that they will be properly consulted.

“It’s not an ordinary planning application because it was an illegal demolition, so the residents need to be heard.

“They still want it rebuilt but I think that’s probably pie in the sky talk now, and we can’t afford a judicial review, but people would really like some sort of public space.”

Among the ideas put forward include a memorial garden to mark the pub’s history as a meeting place for Royal Air Force pilots. Others simply want to make clear to the council the area cannot support further housing developments.

But Caldecotte director Paul Sturgess insists the scheme is “right for the local area”.

“We’re never going to win the battle with the locals — they felt that something was done there that shouldn’t have been done, but it’s not the case,” he said.

“You have a derelict site that we’re looking to transform into what we see to be a well-balanced development of housing, and a lot of low-cost housing.

“There will be shared ownership properties in there for the local community.

“All the units are on the smaller side and there are much needed starter homes for first time buyers. It’s the right scheme for the location.”

Mr Sturgess said the way the development was being perceived by people angry at
the pub’s demolition was “regrettable”, and said that any objections including workable changes or feedback would be considered.

No timescale has been set for when the application will go before council planners.

The Health and Safety Executive carried out an investigation into the site to allay fears over the possible presence of asbestos.

How the Battle of Britain was lost

Demolition down to 'communication error'

Council refuses demolition application despite it already being knocked down

Workers survey land ahead of planning application

Community asset bid refused

Protestors take a stand outside pub site

It found there was pipe lagging present in the building back in 2007, but not by the time it was demolished.

The management of any asbestos while the Battle of Britain was open would have been a matter for Gravesham council, which regulates health and safety at pubs across the borough.

A spokesman said: "The council is not aware of any asbestos strips taking place at the premises prior to the demolition of the BOB pub. We have no records of any concerns being raised regarding asbestos whilst the pub was trading."

A spokesman for the Mesothelioma Cancer Alliance, a national group dedicated to raising awareness of asbestos, added: "Until the land is cleared of any possible asbestos, then homes should not be built.

"We sincerely hope no locals were exposed to the airborne asbestos."