A “sorely missed” country pub which burnt down after being struck by lightning could soon rise from the rubble more than three years on.

Plans have been submitted to rebuild the Green Man pub in Hodsoll Street and return it to its former glory in the same spot overlooking the green.

The historic hostelry had sat in the quiet hamlet, sandwiched between New Ash Green and Vigo, for more than 130 years and was described by villagers as the beating heart of the community.

At the height of the blaze in the early hours of June 16, 2021, five fire engines fought the flames and crews drained and pumped water from a nearby swimming pool to bring the fire under control.

But just weeks later the council’s building control department declared what remained of the timber structures unsafe and ordered the site be flattened.

Since then the former pub site has sat a derelict eyesore, much to the frustration of the 7,000-strong community who had rallied to raise funds to save it and have the pub designated an asset of community value.

Its former owners, the Stonegate Group, later declared its intention to dispose of the site, prompting fears among residents it could be sold off for housing.

However, their prayers may now have been answered following the submission of new plans lodged with Sevenoaks council for a replacement boozer.

The application proposes a new public house should be constructed on the same site with the existing car park and rear gardens layout and access onto Hodsoll Street retained.

It notes how the pub made an “important and positive contribution” to the character of the conservation area and explains how the the loss of the building has, very literally, “torn a hole out of the centre of the village”.

However, the design and access statement, accompanying the blueprint, also warns of “very significant” social and economic challenges impacting rural pubs of its kind which have forced many into closure.

It argues it is not realistic for the pub to simply be re-built on an exactly “like for like basis” and some design changes will be necessary to unlock the investment required and ensure the business is financially sustainable.

The scheme has been designed to be consistent with the size and scale of the previous venue and to ensure it blends in a “visually pleasing way” with the wider conservation area.

Compared to the overall layout of the former public house and dispersed garage and storage building the proposed scheme has a “more compact form” with just a small single garage within the site and then a consolidated single new pub building.

Changes to that structure will be made to improve the functionality of the ground floor bar/restaurant and to provide for a small number of rooms at first floor and attic level which can be let out to pub customers.

However, the green belt location of the application site means that there is a general presumption against the construction of new buildings.

The application notes the council was “reticent” to agree the proposed replacement should be accepted as a “not-inappropriate” form of green belt development on the basis the superstructure of the former public house was lost as a result of the fire in 2021.

But it argues a refusal based on such an approach would be “close to madness”.

So far the plans have been met largely with approval from residents with several comments in favour.

“It would be lovely to see the Green Man replaced in a way that is in keeping with the village,” said one respondent on the council’s planning portal.

“This would I am sure support the vibrant community of Hodsoll Street.”

Another added: “Long overdue, it was vital to the community and is sorely missed by many local people.”

However, some have expressed scepticism and fear it could be used as a “stepping stone” to gaining approval for a different kind of venture.

“I believe this development would fail as commercial and this design is around converting this new building into housing once that happens,” they said.

Cllr Penny Cole (Con), who represents Hartley and Hodsoll Street ward at the district council, described the three-year absence of the pub as a “great loss” to the “thriving community” who would use it as a place to socialise and hold various events.

“The residents are desperate to get a pub back on that location,” she added.

“There’s a hole where the building was and you go and walk past it and you feel it needs to be a pub again.”

Villagers had grouped together in the aftermath of the blaze to form the Green Man Recovery Group in an attempt to buy the pub from Stonegate.

They say they put in a “good-sized bid” but were unsuccessful.

Cllr Cole says it’s understood to have since been sold to an undisclosed private developer who they are hoping will “act in good faith” with the latest plans coming forward for a replacement pub.

But, she adds, “you never know with these things”, and “until you see a planning application appear in the council you just don’t know”.

“So there is always the possibility that it could just end up being a house, or more than one house.

“But it is in green belt so that would have been challenged by us as the local council and the residents.”

She’s now encouraging residents to get behind the application and show their support for it.

“It’s brilliant that application has finally come forward. It’s taken a long time,” she continued.

“There’s a lot of positivity on this. Hopefully it [the pub] will be back again in a few years time once it’s been built.”

At the time of the blaze in summer 2021, residents were left shocked and devastated with some describing it as “horrific” and like losing an “old friend”.

Former landlord Alex Brooks, who had struggled through Brexit and the pandemic to get the pub up and running, previously told KentOnline how he’d “lost everything” in the blaze.

He said it was a focal part of village life, adding a lot of his regulars "were at a loss as to where to go".

We have been all waiting for this news ever since it burnt down

In April the following year, nearly 100 people gathered outside the site to show their support for rebuilding the pub and guarding against any unwanted future development.

Sally Samuels, a member of the Green Man Recovery group, told KentOnline they were “extremely happy” to hear the news that a pub is in the works to be built on the site.

“We have been all waiting for this news ever since it burnt down,” she said. “There is still a long way to go in the planning process and we would urge the public to show their support by going onto the Sevenoaks council planning portal and registering their thoughts. “

To see more planning applications and other public notices for your area, click here.

There is a deadline of February 21 to receive comments on the application.

A determination date for the plans has been set for March 25.