Plans which would see two former Belvedere pubs developed into dozens of residences have been lodged with the local authority, with councillors from the area encouraging residents to have their say on the schemes.

Public consultation is now open for the applications at the Belvedere Hotel and the former Ye Olde Leather Bottle, after developers submitted plans to Bexley Council earlier this month.

Belvedere, a Labour strong-hold in the majority-Conservative borough of Bexley, is represented by Labour’s Dan Francis, Dave Putson and Sally Hinkley, who have asked the public to submit their feedback during the consultation period.

The three councillors have been involved with proposals at both sites; with the trio meeting owners of the Belvedere Hotel in April last year to discuss future plans for the old boozer.

“This included that any proposed development should maintain the locally listed building and a pub or restaurant use on the ground floor of the current building,” Belvedere Labour said in at statement this week.

Hollins Planning subsequently lodged their application this month, which would see the pub converted into residences, while a rear extension would be added, with homes distributed across first, second and third floors.

It would see the hotel converted into six self-contained flats, consisting of one three-bedroom unit, three two-bed units and two one-bed units.

Three three-bedroom townhouses would also be developed in a terrace next to the pub, in a design which “would be sympathetic to the existing hotel” according to the applicants.

The three councillors have also been involved with the controversial proposal for the former Ye Olde Leather Bottle site, which saw development company Balmonza Ltd and its director Kulvinder Singh fined more than £25,000 after an investigation by the Health and Safety Executive found numerous breaches were committed when the pub was demolished in 2016.

Plans lodged for the site would see a 70-bedroom care home built a new three and four storey development, with associated care facilities, staff accommodation, landscaped gardens and undercroft parking.

The Labour group say they plan on holding an online video meeting with the developers in early May, where they’ll discuss concerns about the impact of the development on neighbours, as well as asking for the public right of way that runs through the site to be maintained.

Ahead of that, they’ve asked residents to submit their thoughts on the developments to Bexley Council.

Residents can view the full plans for the Belvedere Hotel by searching for the code 20/00311/FUL on the council’s planning portal. Views can also be submitted to Cllr Sally Hinkley at sally.hinkley@bexley.gov.uk.

They can do likewise for the Ye Old Leather Bottle site by searching for 20/00857/FULM, while correspondence can be sent to Cllr Daniel Francis at daniel.francis@bexley.gov.uk.