After 11 years of debating, confrontation and disappointment - and a street driven to near dereliction - Tesco is finally ready to launch its development plans for Dartford.

A long-awaited revised planning application for the town centre site has been submitted to Dartford council for consideration.

Council leader Jeremy Kite (Con) said: “I’m pleased it’s in, but now Tesco really do have to get on with it.

"Tesco has done a lot of damage to our town and they need to clear up the mess. I hope the planning application is OK, so that it can be approved and work can begin.”

Plans for a supermarket and more were approved last year, but earlier this year Tesco said it was no longer happy with the scheme and wanted to change it.

It caused outrage from people fed up with years of waiting. At one point, even retail expert Mary Portas waded in, saying Tesco should stop stalling.

The latest application still has to be considered by planning officers before they can make their recommendations to councillors, and a final decision made.

The new plans include nearly 8,000 sq m of retail floor space and 107 homes.

There will be three new residential blocks, and 13 existing flats above the businesses along Lowfield Street will be renovated.

The supermarket will be directly opposite the entrance to Instone Road, with the car park to the south along Lowfield Street and access by car will be via Lowfield Street, next to Fairfield pool.

The flats are to be on the other side of the supermarket, and can be accessed by car via Market Street, or by pedestrians only using a walkway which runs in between the flats and the supermarket, connecting Lowfield Street with Central Park.

Tesco’s chequered history with Lowfield Street, above, includes three previous applications.

One in 2003 was thrown out by the Secretary of State, another in 2008 wasn’t considered viable and the 2011 application was approved in 2012 by Dartford council – but Tesco changed its mind.

"Tesco has done a lot of damage to our town and they need to clear up the mess" - council leader Jeremy Kite

It has involved long-running battles with local residents and businesses, including the Glentworth Club.

The ex-Service club was earmarked for demolition under the initial planning application and Tesco promised to build members a new club, but then pulled out.

Tesco agreed to pay £200,000 compensation to the club earlier this year and the final instalment of that money has been paid this month.

Cllr Kite said: “They’ve done what they said they were going to – now we need action from them to bring life back to Lowfield Street.”