A huge new rugby club will be built after Dartford council approved planning permission last night.

It has previously been reported Dartford Valley RFC's new home at Stone Lodge will be ready to use by the end of the year.

It was intended that the club would open until 1.30am at weekends but councillors moved that forward to midnight due to it being in a residential area. During the week it will open until 11.30pm.

Another concession voted in means music will only be played on the open terrace until 9pm.

The club will be built on 4.2 hectares of heathland and share an entrance with the judo club and bowls clubs.

Planning approval is also being sought for 120 new homes, an eight-form entry school and open space at the site of the former Stone House Hospital.

The site has been earmarked for development in the Local Plan and the emerging Stone Parish neighbourhood plan.

A large open space, which will include new paths, signage and seating, will also be created, while the public footpath will be diverted and supplemented with new pedestrian and cycle routes.

Bat corridors will be provided along the south western edge and reptile habitats to the north will be protected.

Speaking after the meeting Labour leader and Stone ward councillor Jonathon Hawkes said he was happy some compromise had been reached.

Speaking about traffic concerns he said: "I pointed out the council should not ignore the fact a school and residential housing are also planned for this site and they will also bring traffic pressure to an already congested part of the road network. I remain worried about this and I think the council needs to do a lot more to address these issues, especially when Stone Lodge is further developed."

He added he had asked for more information about potential use of the facility by the wider community, adding: "This facility is being built with tax payers money and I strongly believe the council should have been able to explain how the community who are paying for it, will be able to use it. The development must be something local people can use and enjoy. As a ward councillor for Stone I offered to work with the council and the club in consultation on any future community use agreement, so I hope it’s something we can look at in the future.

"I hope I’ve represented residents views effectively and faithfully in this process. Going forward — if indeed Dartford Valley RFC are to be the tenants of the club — I look forward to welcoming them to Stone and building on the community partnerships they have already begun to establish."