An historic town centre pub will be turned into a block of flats despite objections.

The boarded up Shipwright Arms in Chatham has been derelict for several years after it closed due to structural problems and anti-social behaviour issues.

Waliur Chowdhury's revised application will see two-bed apartments created at the Hills Terrace site, which was built in the 1930s and based just a walk away from the town's railway station.

Medway Council's planning committee met on Wednesday and its 14 members unanimously approved the proposal during a public meeting at Chatham's Gun Wharf.

Ward councillor Harinder Mahil (Lab) said while he took no issue with the proposed redevelopment scheme, he was concerned about the growing movement towards housing people in "packed" flats.

He said: "I would like to see more planning permission for family sized housing and do not like the trend towards packing as many people as you can in a flat."

Original plans indicated there would be six apartments. But concerns were raised by the planning committee that two units on the top floor were too small for use when they first met to discuss the proposal on October 16.

Planning officer Doug Coleman's report says: "Members of the committee raised concerns to the standard of accommodation in particular to the roof-space two bedsits, and the application was deferred for discussion with the applicant."

The revised application considered this week shows the roof space units have been merged together to form a single two-bedroom flat - reducing the development from six flats to five in total.

Five objection letters were sent to the local planning authority about fears there would be added pressure on on-street parking and the loss of privacy for neighbours.

But these issues were not discussed in the meeting and the application sailed through in under 10 minutes with the committee silent on the proposal.

The Shipwright Arms, which contained a bar, pool room and games room, becomes the latest pub to close in the area and be converted for alternative use.

Others include the Clarendon, in Pagitt Street - converted into flats - while the Ordnance Arms, in Ordnance Terrace, is now a shop.

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