Plans for luxury flats in former Green Lion pub, High Street, Rainham

A landmark pub building which has sat empty for five years could soon be turned into luxury flats.

The Grade-II listed Green Lion in High Street, Rainham, has fallen into disrepair since last orders were called.

Proposals to convert it onto a children’s nursery, microbrewery and even turn it back into licensed premises have all failed, having not met planning and conservationists’ requirements.

But now an application has been submitted to Medway Council’s planning department for a change of use from a public house to two apartments with parking spaces and external alterations.

Businessman Nathan Plumley, who owns the landmark 14th-century hostelry, said he was “keeping his fingers crossed” this latest scheme is approved.

He said: “It’s a lovely building and we can’t wait to see it restored to its former glory.

“Rainham has enough pubs and this really attractive residential development will bring new life into the town.

“The apartments will be massive. We were going to go for three one-bedroom flats but decided on two, two-bedroom ones.

“The design will be in keeping with the local area with nice sash windows. We have tried renting the building out but with no success.

“If this plan fails, we shall appeal it.”

A year after the closure, the first application for the building came from two businesswomen who run the Hedgehogs chain of pre-schools across the Towns.

Their venture was initially met favourably and they even had their distinctive company logo stencilled on the walls outside while signing up little ones on the register.

But in the end, red tape got in the way and the women, Eve Poynter and Laura Hollands, were forced to ditch their plan at the last minute.

At the time Mr Plumley accused the council of “nit-picking”, saying: “I really don't understand it. Everybody has done everything asked of them and more.”

After two years of being on the market, a plan to turn it into a microbrewery emerged with the applicants latching on to the trend for craft beers.

They pledged to carry out £100,000-refit in a month, but this again came to nothing.

Mr Plumley said after it fell through: “Change of use has proved too difficult, so we have decided to revert to it being used as a licensed premises.”

But now he is satisfied this latest application is “just right” for Rainham and the change of use would be pleasing for residents to see.

The pub, next to St Margaret’s Church, has a colourful history over many centuries.

Workmen carrying out alterations in the 1960s uncovered a passageway leading from the cellar of the High Street inn to the nearby place of worship.

When roof tiles were removed about a decade later, a “priest hole” was discovered with several clay pipes and an old rickety bench in it.

It is possible this was a hiding place for those escaping various authorities and persecution.

Before the Second World War, the back of the pub was a bowling green which doubled up as a tennis court, but this was dug up as part of the conflict effort.

In latter years, live music and functions were held and it also used to have overnight accommodation.

Part of the hostelry was converted into a Thai restaurant but the business no longer exists.