A major dockside scheme which was criticised as being like something out of the Dutch port city Rotterdam is back before planning councillors with several changes.

There will now be fewer blocks for a 90-room motel, they will not be made from shipping containers and the rooms will be bigger.

The second part of the double application, which involves a restaurant, bar and swimming pool, remains unchanged.

The plans will be heard by the district council's planning committee on Thursday.

Both schemes are at the new Marina Curve and are part of the Port of Dover's £250 million redevelopment, the Dover Western Docks Revival.

The motel appliction is by the Electric Motel Company of Brighton.

Instead of five three-storey accommodation blocks there will be three, two with three floors and one with four.

There will still be 90 rooms but these will be 14.4 sq m rather than 5 sq m for double rooms and 6 sq m for family ones.

There would be 120 parking spaces, instead of the previously planned 117, and 12 public electric vehicle charging points.

The motel would no longer be made out of old shipping containers.

The civic group the Dover Society were against using the containers and felt the originally-planned rooms were too cramped and instead would end up being used as a "refugee or homeless hostel."

They said the previous version of the scheme should be for a fully commercial port, like Rotterdam, rather than the heritage site and tourist magnet that Dover also is.

It now says that the new design is an improvement but still out of place with nearby listed buildings.

It also believes the hotel rooms lack what's needed for anything other than a one night stay.

Planning councillors, at their meeting on April 22, had voted to defer their decision.

They said that there had not been enough public consultation and local feedback would help the developers adjust their ideas.

The second application involves creating a swimming pool, restaurant, bar and shops.

It is by Bride Hall Estate Partners and Concise Living Ltd, also of Brighton.

Planning officers have recommended granting permission for both applications.

The Port of Dover also supports both and its statement to the council said: "As we all look to move forward out of the damaging economic impacts of Covid, such a scheme would be a massive boost for Dover at this critical time of recovery."

The Dover Western Docks Revival project was first made public in February 2014 and is the port authority's single biggest investment.

Its other phases have included opening a new cargo terminal and it is hoped the new marina, with its pier opened in 2019, will be fully operational next year.

This week's planning committee meeting is from 6pm on Thursday, December 9, at the council chamber of the Dover District Council headquarters at the White Cliffs Business Park, Whitfield.