A proposal to move a coastal road as part of a new multi-million pound housing development - which has been heavily-fought by objectors - has now been approved.

It comes as costs for the Princes Parade project in Hythe have revealed to have risen by £16.5million, and will now cost a total of £45million.

As part of the overall plans for the divisive development, the existing road, which runs parallel to the beach, will be closed and another built closer to the Royal Military Canal.

The Stopping Up order was subject to a public inquiry, which was overseen by independent inspector Owen Woodwards and carried out in October and November last year.

Now, a report reveals the application has been granted.

A letter published by the Department for Transport reads: “The Secretary of State agrees with the inspector’s comments that the order would bring many benefits - including safer and more varied car parking opportunities, improved car parking for the disabled, improved cycle routes, and improved highway safety.”

The order is subject to a six-week High Court challenge period if there are grounds to contest the decision.

Folkestone and Hythe District Council (FHDC) is behind the plans for Princes Parade.

As well as stopping up the road, the scheme includes building 150 new homes, a lesisure centre with a swimming pool, and new coastal heritage park on the currently empty land.

With the road re-located closed to the canal, a traffic-free promenade will be installed near the coastline.

The project, which was approved in 2019, has been subject to many objections and protests over the years from residents, who want the land left untouched.

Activists also launched Judicial Review in an attempt to stop the development, but it was lost at the High Court.

Commenting on the stopping up order being granted, Cllr David Monk, FHDC leader, said: "I’m very pleased the order has been granted following a thorough and detailed assessment of the application by an independent inspector."

But a spokesman for action group Save Princes Parade posted online: "There was never a need to divert the road and this represents a loss to our community."

Nikki Stuart, from Wild About Princes Parade added: "I am devastated to learn about the outcome of the public inquiry. Like so may others who love our unique coastal road, quiet wildlife haven and tranquil canal walks, I was hopeful that the inspector would protect our heritage.

"Despite the thousands of signatures on petitions, written objections and the many marches over the years, FHDC have persisted with this unwanted development.

"During the inquiry it was clear that local people were passionate about the area and gave up their own time, unpaid, to speak from the heart."

Although construction is yet to start along Princes Parade, work has begun to clear the land, a former waste tip, and relocate the animals living there, such as badgers and reptiles, to new homes.

Fencing has also been placed around the site.

Investigations on the land have revealed there are contamination issues, a report found.

Next week, the scheme will be put before FHDC's cabinet members.

Matters to be discussed include the fact the price of the project has increased by £16.5million to £45,300,579.

FHDC says this is due to 'a number of factors' including the 'near 18-month delay caused by legal action, improved knowledge of the site, and inflation and the supply chain issues which all major projects are currently subject to'.

The appointment of the preferred leisure centre operator - Freedom Leisure - on an initial 10-year contract, with an optional five-year extension at the discretion of the council, will also be debated.

Freedom Leisure runs similar facilities in Ashford and Sandwich.

The meeting will be held at 5pm at FHDC's Civic Centre, in Castle Hill Avenue, Folkestone, next Wednesday (January 26).

Seating is limited, but the meeting can be viewed online.