Ashford is set to become the “envy of other towns across Kent”.

This is the opinion of the town’s councillors, who last night unanimously approved plans for a new multi-million pound town centre development.

The scheme will see a six screen boutique cinema, a family hotel and eight restaurants built on a 2.6 hectare (6.42 acre) site in Elwick Road, on land which once housed Ashford’s old cattle market.

Scroll down to hear Ashford councillor Gerry Clarkson talk about the plans

Speaking during last night's planning committee, Cllr Harold Apps, ward member for Victoria, which covers the town, said: “This development is just what the town needs.

“It will be an important starting point for the town’s regeneration.”

He described the appearance of the development as “exciting” and said it will be an “iconic addition” to Ashford.

He added: “It is in the right location - that is very important.”

Cllr Mike Bennett, ward member for Rolvenden and Tenterden west, said: "We have before us plans for a spectacular cinema building.

"It will be the envy of other towns across Kent. The hotel is much needed.

"It is a quality development on a long abandoned site."

Plans to build a town centre multiplex were first revealed by the Kentish Express in 2013.

Earlier this year it was revealed that developers Stanhope PLC, who specialise in urban regeneration, would invest £75 million into the project.

As well as the six screen cinema, which will seat 897 people, the plans also feature a 58 bed hotel, eight new restaurants or cafes and a 282 space car park, plus associated artwork and landscaping.

Boutique cinemas differs from your standard big box cinema in that there is a focus on a high quality food and drink provision, they are architecturally unique and there is an emphasis on comfortable seating.

It will also show a mix of blockbusters, independent films and screening of theatre shows.

In terms of design, the cinema would be around the same height as County Square shopping centre, which is opposite, and clad in a gold coloured, aluminium mesh shaped to wrap the building from the first floor.

The material would appear opaque during the day, with a sense of translucence as the evening draws in and the light drops, allowing lighting projections to be seen behind.

To the west side of the building and on the first floor, there will be an open terrace with glass balustrade, leading from the cinema’s bar.

The four-storey hotel will measure 16m in height and will complement the cinema's cladding.

The eight ground floor restaurants will then sit below the cinema and hotel.

Gary Bourne, director at Stanhope, spoke at the meeting and said that the results of a public consultation held earlier this year showed 90% of visitors supported the proposals.

He added that the 'boutique' cinema will not compete with Ashford's existing Cineworld, on the Eureka Leisure Park.

He added: "It will encourage people to spend more time in the town centre, and will complement the Designer Outlet centre."

Mr Bourne also said that as part of the development, the old gates from the former cattle market will be reinstated on the site, as a way of linking the town's history with the new development.

Cllr Graham Galpin, ward member for Stour, and cabinet member for town centre focus, said of the plans: "The design is appropriate - it is a work of art. In fact it is more than one work of art, it is several.

"It will add to the character of Ashford.

"People will come to Ashford, they will want to be here and spend their money. It is vitally important to the economic future of Ashford."

The development is likely to generate around 250 new jobs.

A second phase, which consists of up to 200 apartments, will be considered by the planning committee in early 2016.