The site of a former nightclub and cinema is to be turned into a complex of flats, shops restaurants and bars.

The land at Castle Street, Dover, previously occupied by Images and the Granada, would have a single block with 28 flats.

But planning permission was only passed through the chairman's casting vote after councillors were split five-five.

Some were concerned that the building, at six storeys, could obscure views of Dover Castle..

Others said four proposed parking spaces were not enough for the new flats and businesses.

Cllr Mike Eddy said: "We need a computer-generated image to see what impact the height of the building will have on the view of the castle, one of the best medieval ones in Britain.

"I don't like the idea of putting something so big in that street.

"I would back refusal. I want something less imposing."

Cllr Bill Gardner said; "It is appalling to provide four car parking spacings for all those shops and flats."

But some councillors had been persuaded by an officers' report saying that the top two floors would be set back, so helping avoid views being blocked.

Cllr Trevor Bond, who proposed approval of the scheme. said: "I was put off by the six storeys but the fifth and sixth are set back so it won't make too much difference from the street."

Planning officers recommended approval.

They argued that while the development had few parking spaces users of the block were 100 metres away from bus stops and 800 metres away from Dover Priory Station.

Shops and services would also be at the residents' doorstep.

The development is next to the St James' Retail and Leisure Park, which has a public car park, along with Stembrook, for people visiting the block.

Officers also said it would regenerate the site, which has been flattened land for five years.

It would provide jobs and homes and be an attractive link to St James'.

The scheme was passed by Dover District Council's planning committee last Thursday.

It went though the casting vote of the meeting's acting chairman, committee vice-chairman Bernard Butcher.

The development, by Dover Heritage and Regeneration Ltd.

The accommodation on the top four storeys, would consist of eight one-bedroomed flats, 18 two-bedroomed ones and two three-bedroomed ones.

The bottom two floors would have shops, offices, restaurants, cafés and bars.

The site is on the corner of Castle Street and Dolphin Passage, a direct walkway to St James'.

The previous building, demolished in 2014, was put up in 1929 and opened as the Granada Cinema in January 1930.

It was renamed the ABC in March 1960 and the cinema closed on October 30, 1982.

Images nighclub opened there in 1985 and the replacement Snoops closed on August 31, 2002.

The premises were bought by JD Wetherspoon in 2003 and sold to DHR in 2012.