Two controversial planning applications are set to be discussed by Shepway District Council's planning committee tonight.

Both the plans for a new supermarket behind the Hawkinge Community Centre and an application to build new flats on the site of the dilapidated Leas Pavilion in Folkestone will be debated.

Council planners are recommending approval for the new supermarket in Hawkinge.

The planning officer has recommended the committee approve plans for a 610 sq m store with 82 car parking spaces behind the community centre in Heron Forstal Avenue.

But the recommendation for approval has 17 conditions including limited opening and delivery hours, and delivery vehicles to be no larger than 10.5m.

The site has been the subject of a number of failed applications including an appeal to the Planning Inspectorate in the past since Edinburgh Land Estates bought the patch of land from the district council in 2007.

Town councillors have voted to oppose the application, and several residents voiced their objections.

Chief among the complaints are that the plans propose insufficient car parking spaces, inadequate road infrastructure to accomodate increased traffic, and that a supermarket is not needed with 13 in a three-and-a-half mile radius of the site. Kent Highways say it has no objections and says the parking provision is “now sufficient”.

The community centre has said it may suffer financially from a supermarket going on the site due to fewer parking spaces being available for the type of events it needs to attract.

Also on the agenda is The Leas Pavilion on The Leas in Folkestone.

The Edwardian building is now listed after community group Go Folkestone led a battle to save the historic building from demolition in 2007.

Plans for a block of 68 flats has wrangled on since the original application was approved in 2009.

A debate has ensued over the amount of affordable housing as part of the development.

Conditions are in place to ensure any development will repair the old pavilion, known more recently as The Leas Club.

It has become infested with dry-rot and overgrowing trees and bushes and campaigners feel clearing this should be the very least before attention turns to The Leas for the First World War commemorations in August.

The meeting takes place at the Civic Centre in Castle Hill Avenue, Folkestone, from 7pm.