Plans to turn a former village pub into a five-bedroom house are being reluctantly backed by residents who say it’s time to say goodbye.

The Chequers in Farningham High Street shut in July after more than 200 years of trading.

Despite what some villagers have termed the owner's persistent “creative attempts” to drum up trade, it has failed to work and it’s not believed a similar enterprise could be revived.

A sign on the door notifying punters of its closure at the time stated the decision had “not been taken lightly”.

It read: “With greatest sadness, due to a sustained decline in trade and increasing operational costs, it has become unsustainable to continue trading.

“Thank you to those who have supported us over the years."

Now, a change of use application has been submitted to Sevenoaks council to turn the former pub into a residential building only.

The two-storey site already has a residential unit on its first floor and second floors, with the plans seeking to transform the ground floor also.

If approved, an open plan living lounge and dining room area would be created.

The existing kitchen at the site would be kept, and the existing toilet area would be turned into a bathroom and shower.

No exterior or internal structural alterations would be made, apart from the removal of the bar.

Existing signage locations on the building would be kept, and access to the building from the corner of the High Street and Dartford Road would not be altered.

The design and access statement says: “The proposed development will preserve the external character and appearance of the building and thus, the contribution it makes to this part of the Farningham conservation area.

Any attempt to continue as a pub is likely to run into the same problems that have caused its closure

“There will be no adverse impact on residential amenity as a result of the development.”

The property is currently listed as an Asset of Community Value on Sevenoaks District Council’s register, having been added to the list in 2020 and re-added in 2025.

The plans have received a mixed response, with the majority of villagers supporting the application.

One said: “It has failed as a pub, due to inadequate support, both from the village residents and passers-by.

“It has no dedicated parking, and Farningham High Street is very rarely empty of parked cars, mostly the property of local residents.

“Any attempt to continue as a pub is likely to run into the same problems that have caused its closure”.

Another woman, who has lived in the village for the past seven years, added: “It saddens me deeply to have to recognise that the Chequers is no longer viable as a pub.

“Over recent years, I have seen the number of patrons visiting the Chequers dwindle to an unsustainable level.

“Despite the owner's persistent creative attempts to improve sales and traffic, such as quiz nights, music nights, and community events, people are not coming.

“Unless the council is able to provide tangible, practical, and immediate support to the Chequers as a public house, it would be an unjust action to prevent the owner from repurposing the building for residential use.

“The owner should not be compelled to maintain a failed business at the expense of their ability to use their home.”

However, several people have objected to the plans, with some raising fears over the impact the loss could have on the local community.

One said: “The property is a historical community resource, and I think it's a shame to convert another pub into a house.”

Another added: “This has been the locals' pub for as long as I can remember and is a true asset to the village and its community.

“Farningham High Street is slowly disappearing and needs to be protected. The loss of this pub would be another nail in the coffin for the High Street.”

Find out about planning applications that affect you at the Public Notice Portal.

Farningham Parish Council has also objected to the proposals as it “does not believe the submitted marketing evidence fully demonstrates that it is no longer viable as a business”.

It added that during a meeting on September 24, the applicant stated that the rear garden would be used to provide parking for two to three vehicles – however, this was not mentioned in the submitted plans.

It means there are now two pubs left in the village.