From the https://www.kentonline.co.uk By Clare Freeman, 21 August 2016.

"Trafalgar Maid," Warner Street, Chatham could be demolished and flats built in its place.

Another Medway pub could be demolished and apartments built in its place, as the demand for housing land intensifies.

Plans have been submitted to develop the site of the Trafalgar Maid in Warner Street, Chatham which has been closed for several years.

The applicant intends to knock down the former pub and build one one-bed and five two-bed flats in its place. The new building will be the same size as the existing one.

There will also be undercroft parking and two visitor spaces next to the property, which will see the footpath reduced to a width of 2m and a street lamp relocated.

It is the latest in a series of applications which have seen pubs across the Town replaced with housing.

Campaigners recently saved the "Royal Oak" in Frindsbury from the bulldozers after developers wanted to demolish the 17th century pub and replace it with homes.

Campaigners celebrate after saving The Royal Oak, Frindsbury.

Spearheaded by Strood resident Joe O’Donnell, the campaign led to the pub in Cooling Road has now been given Grade II listed status and been listed as an asset of community value.

Over the years, applications have been submitted to convert many former pubs across the Towns into housing including the "Green Dragon" in Church Street, Gillingham; the "Horseshoe" in Cuxton Road, Strood; The "Brickmakers Arms" in Wyles Street, Gillingham; The "Three Gardeners" in North Street, Strood; "Tug and Shovel" on the corner of Gun Lane and North Street, Strood; The "Alma" in Knight Road, Strood; the "Countryman" in Saunders Street, Gillingham; The "Black Lion" in Mill Road, Gillingham; the "North Foreland" in Rochester High Street and the "Woodsman," Yarrow Road, Walderslade.

Medway needs to find enough land for 30,000 new homes over the next 20 years and the council are under huge pressure to find sites.

The issue came to light earlier this summer, when Dave Harris, the head of planning, told a planning committee that the council are “nowhere near a five year housing land supply”.

He said it was more like a two year supply, adding that some greenfield sites will have to be released.

A public inquiry into plans to build 5,000 homes at Lodge Hill is still yet to start despite council planners approving it almost two years ago.