The charred husk of a former pub gutted by fire will be bulldozed to make way for homes.

Flames engulfed Ramsgate’s Chilton Tavern after it closed in 2019 with the land now earmarked for four family-sized houses.

At the height of the inferno, it took firefighters in six engines a significant number of hours to get the blaze under control on October 9, 2022.

Now, Thanet District Council has given the nod for development to proceed at the Pegwell Road site despite a number of objections from some living nearby.

In official council papers, while approving the plans, a planning chief said: “It is considered, that the proposed development would not have an unduly adverse impact on either the character and appearance of the area, the living conditions of the occupiers of adjacent properties, or highway safety.

“Therefore, the development is considered acceptable.”

Now the future of the site looks certain following the latest twist in a long-running planning saga.

The old Victorian inn had three times been targeted for transformation into homes - but councillors repeatedly scrapped the proposals.

A bid to turn the site into three houses was refused in 2018, with another proposal to convert the first floor into flats was also turned down in 2020.

A year later, a separate bid to turn the site into five homes was rejected on appeal, with an inspector noting at the time: “Before the fire, the pub was clearly recognisable for what it was and had a certain charm.

“No doubt it is a local landmark and has been a feature of the area for well over a hundred years.

“But the same could be said of many older buildings on corner plots.

“There is also no indication that the building is particularly loved or valued by the local community.”

But now the location is finally to be given a fresh lease of life as plans to knock down the building and rebuild the site as four three-bedroom homes have been given the green light.

Some residents raised objections to the proposal, with one citing that the buildings would be out of character with the neighbourhood.

"In all, I’m not happy with this proposal due to there being four houses proposed instead of three, which would be far more realistic, I also feel these buildings are out of character with the area, said the resident.

“If the site is to be re-developed it really should include space for a pub/micro-pub, or at the very least any undertaking that it is community focussed,” remarked a neighbour.

But on August 29, the latest application submitted for the space was approved by Thanet District Council.

Concluding their report on the matter, the case officer said: “It is considered, that the proposed development would not have an unduly adverse impact on either the character and appearance of the area, the living conditions of the occupiers of adjacent properties, or highway safety.

“Therefore, the development is considered acceptable.”