A dental firm has bought a vacant pub with a view to bringing the building back into use by turning it into a dental lab.
Blue Dental Laboratories Ltd has applied for planning permission to change the use of the Railway Tavern, on the corner of Crowborough Hill and Farningham Road, Crowborough.
The Edenbridge business said that it employed five to ten people in its application to Wealden District Council.
The company said that it intended to convert the Railway Tavern into a dental lab and move in once the work was complete.
The plans involve significant internal alterations, with the company keen to turn the ground floor and first floor of the building into lab rooms and staff amenities.
The proposals also include some external changes to the building, with uPVC windows replacing existing timber frames and painted bricks on the ground floor to be rendered over.
The first floor brickwork would be cleaned and retained, as would the former pub’s decorative lights.
The former pub, once also known as the Welcome Stranger, is not listed but has previously been identified as a non-designated heritage asset.
The applicant said that this should not prevent the proposed work from going ahead because the conversion would bring the building back into use.
The applicant said: “The refurbishment is a positive enhancement which will enable the non-designated heritage asset to be brought back into a viable use, thus increasing its longevity.
“In terms of external alterations, it is considered that the proposals concerning the refurbishment of the former public house will preserve the elements of interest.
“Preservation of the decorative pub lights will allow for the historic and evidential significance of the former public house to be maintained.”
The plans said that the building would have five off-road parking spaces as a result of a neighbouring scheme.
