Tesco is in the “last chance saloon” with its latest application to build in Dartford town centre, according to the council leader.

Some people are unconvinced by the supermarket giant’s scaled-down proposal for a smaller store, shops and housing in Lowfield Street, but Dartford council is refusing to accept another pull out.

Tesco decided not to go ahead with a 2011 application that was approved by councillors in 2012. The previous two applications failed.

Shop owners in Lowfield Street expressed concerns in last week’s Dartford Messenger.

Dartford council Cllr Jeremy Kite (Con) said: “This really is the last chance saloon for Tesco.”

However, he added: “We do believe that Tesco is being genuine with this application. They have got it right this time, having reconsidered their market and the rise in online shopping and home deliveries.

“There’s no reason for them not to develop it, and we have made it clear to them that we are not going to accept another pull out.”

Usually, approved applications are given a time limit work must start by. Often it is between three and five years, but Cllr Kite believes this could, and should, be much shorter if the scheme gets the go-ahead, given Tesco’s history.

Cllr Kite said he remained optimistic. “They are pumping a lot of money into this application on a daily and weekly basis and for all the pain it has caused people in Lowfield Street and Dartford as a whole, they would not waste such vast amounts on something they do not intend to build.”

Last week it emerged that the supermarket paid more than £50,000 to submit its fourth planning application.

The fee goes towards having the proposal considered.

Numerous council officers will be poring over it in the next few months to judge its viability and put forward their recommendation for approval or refusal by the planning committee in the autumn.

A Tesco spokeswoman said: “We’re really pleased to be bringing forward our development and this regeneration for Dartford.

“Our store will create hundreds of jobs and the development will also provide over 100 residential units including affordable housing.

"We are confident that our new store will be popular with customers and people in the town.

“The store and the additional retail space we are creating will increase footfall along Lowfield Street and help to support trade in the town centre.”