A bid to open a raunchy sex club on the outskirts of Canterbury has hit a stumbling block after planning officers refused the application.

But the man behind the plans says the X-rated venture is not dead in the water and still believes Lakesview Business Park in Herseden is the ideal spot for a bondage dungeon.

Despite the refusal - which planning officers blamed partly on a lack of parking - applicant Jack Brabham is adamant he will appeal the decision.

“The refusal is unfair,” he said. “It should have gone to committee as it had a huge amount of support.

"I’ll definitely be appealing it shouldn’t have been dealt with by officers.”

However, the city council’s head of planning Simon Thomas says the authority’s decision-making process was done by the book.

He said: “The planning committee is called upon to decide applications when officers recommend approval but the council receives four or more objections.

"Ward councillors can also request an application is decided by the committee.

“Neither of those criteria were met on this occasion. Officers are entitled to refuse applications when they judge that they do not comply with our policies.”

If it were approved, unit 4d on the industrial estate would be transformed into a two-storey “private members club” called Club Desire.

It would be furnished with a “fully-equipped dungeon” and decked with a “two-way mirror room” so couples could have sex while others watched.

A website about the club is still up and running and invites potential members to get in touch.

The refusal notice states a number of reasons for the club’s rejection.

It says: “The proposed development would result in the loss of industrial employment floorspace on a protected employment site.”

It goes on to stress that the plans are “unjustified, unsustainable and harmful” to a handful of planning policies including failing to prove there to be no suitable alternative locations.

The development’s “unacceptable levels of on-site parking” are also criticised. But, Mr Brabham says there would be no issues if it were to be given the nod.

He added: “You wouldn’t even know it’s a business park after 6pm so parking wouldn’t be a problem.”