A new £75m cultural quarter has been lauded as a "key milestone" after being approved by councillors.

The Westgate development scheme will see the derelict area between Spital Street and Hythe Street given a new lease of life as part of plans to attract more visitors to Dartford town centre.

Muse Developments, which is working on the project alongside Dartford council, aims to build 120 new homes, of which 20 have been designated as affordable housing in the form of shared ownership units.

Planning officers noted this fell short of the authority's adopted policy but said that "the quality of the development being provided is necessary to improve the appearance and perception of Dartford Town Centre," adding they felt a reduction in provision was outweighed by the public benefit of the scheme.

A multi-screen cinema, health and wellbeing centre and nine new retail units consisting of restaurants and bars will all form part of the regeneration to create a new "cultural quarter" , linked with the existing train station and facilities.

It will also see the former Co-op building in Spital Street, which has sat vacant since 2007, transformed into a new 85-bed hotel with the exterior art decor retained.

Dartford councillors voted unanimously to approve the scheme at a development control board meeting held last Thursday.

Deputy shadow leader of the council, Kelly Grehan (Lab) had quizzed the developer's representative over demand for a multiplex cinema against the backdrop of the closure of Cineworld cinemas last week.

The Stone ward councillor sought assurances the space would not be left vacant.

She was told by Muse partner James Stockdale that they had already received offers for the space, who added that the cinema and hotel were "key anchors to the scheme" and would create a much needed "evening economy".

Talk had also been made of a potential "super surgery" to meet the town and surrounding area's growing demand for healthcare services but this fell through following talks with the NHS who "decided not to move forward with the proposals".

Other landscaping changes will see the car park opposite the Atik nightclub in Kent Road transformed into a multi-storey facility with 239 spaces for both private and public use.

Some concerns were raised by Councillor Brian Garden (Con) over the availability of parking but he was told by developers it was "more than sustainable" for the scheme and that they were "trying to attract people who don't come by car".

More than 600 people submitted views about the scheme when it was first announced two years ago with some 70% expressing their support.

A further round of public consultation was undertaken as part of a series of webinars held in May in which 106 people attended.

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