A regeneration scheme proposed for a car park has been given the green light.

The application for the Beach Street car park in Herne Bay was submitted by Canterbury City Council and approved as expected by the planning committee last night

The authority bought the eyesore site, including the former Tivoli arcade, for £1.1 million last year.

The scheme is for 27 flats above retail units and artists' studio spaces and six town houses, with 25 parking spaces.

The work also includes the demolition and replacement of the eyesore Tivoli site fronting onto Central Parade while the neighbouring number 74 will be rebuilt with a new shop front.

Council planning officer Chris Pragnell told members the area was designated as an 'opportunity' site for redevelopment in the Herne Bay Area Action Plan, saying the car park was largely underused for most of the year.

The application was voted through by members without any objections.

Mayler Colloton, partner at Clague Architects which was commissioned to produce the scheme by the council, said: "Beach Street car park lies at the heart of Herne Bay. The existing buildings on site are generally derelict and in a very poor state of repair, particularly the Tivoli which is a later infill building and detracts from the conservation area and Central Parade.

"The design of this new development for the city council has been undertaken with great care to ensure it fits into the scale and textures of the built context and enhances this part of Herne Bay, introducing much needed new homes and businesses.

“The proposed infill building on Central Parade replacing the derelict Tivoli building will in particular serve to repair this damaged but very important part of the conservation area .”

Read more: All the latest news from Herne Bay.