Visitors to Bluewater have been told to "watch this space" after plans to erect a huge sports air dome in the middle of a car park were approved.

Permission has been granted to build an indoor "football-themed family entertainment centre" on the site of Kent's largest out-of-town shopping centre.

According to plans submitted to Dartford council, the domed structure will last for a temporary period of up to five years at the chalk cliff site in Greenhithe.

It will sit at the upper level of the existing "Blue" car park – next to the entrance to the Showcase Cinema and Gravity trampoline park – resulting in a loss of 187 spaces.

The entertainment centre will include a full five-a-side football pitch which can be sub-divided into two smaller ones.

There will also be small food and beverage area with a choice of refreshments, a retail area to buy merchandise and a number of football-related skill games.

Also included will be a "team talk area", changing rooms and spectator seating.

The facilities will be spread across two storeys to fit around 150 people at any one time and according to council officers it is not thought to be a "high-capacity venue".

A start date for construction of the plastic dome has not yet been confirmed.

But a spokesman for the centre told KentOnline: "We are always looking at how we can bring new and exciting concepts to Bluewater.

"We hope to be able to share more details about new brands joining the centre soon, so watch this space."

The plans have been created by Hollaway Architects who have worked on a number of major leisure developments across Kent including the world's first multi-storey skatepark in Folkestone.

A submitted design and access statement says the Bluewater sports project will "de-tribalise football" and deliver Premiership level skills training "right into the local community".

It further states: "Whilst also promoting the virtues of fitness, eating well and healthy competition. The centre is a wellness, fitness, family and fun orientated social concept."

The air dome has also been designed so it can easily be adapted as sporting trends change, it adds.

The plans for the indoor football dome were approved by council officers for a temporary basis of five years.

Following this it will be removed and the site returned to a car park.

Their report adds: "The application proposes the provision of a leisure use within the Bluewater Shopping Area which is in accordance with policy that generally supports both retail and leisure uses at Bluewater.

"Whilst the scheme does result in the loss of some car parking, the information submitted shows that this is acceptable and will not result in demand for parking greater than the parking spaces available."

It has been given the green light to open from 9am to 10.30pm on weekdays and Saturdays and 9am to 10pm on Sundays.

The new sports facility will join a growing list of attractions to bolster the centre's leisure pursuits and diversify its portfolio.

Last month Bluewater's biggest attraction, Hangloose Adventure Park, was granted permission to boost the cap on visitor numbers.

It hosts England's longest zipwire, Europe's biggest swing, and the UK's only outdoor skydive machine.

Yesterday, KentOnline revealed the news more than 3,000 solar panels are set to be installed at Bluewater to help power the complex.

The 3,200 panels will generate about 1,158,400 kilowatt hours of renewable energy a year – enough to power about 308 households or 512 electric cars for a year.