Plans to transform a vacant restaurant into shops and a new home have been approved.

The long-empty Follies Pizzeria and Cicchetti bar, at 78 High Street in Hythe, is set to be turned into two commercial units and a flat.

Documents were submitted to Folkestone and Hythe District Council (FHDC) in October last year by a John Davies applying for the venue's change of use.

The flat will occupy the first floor and will have two bedrooms, whereas the two shops will be on the ground floor with access to the basement.

The building - which previously divided opinion with its olive green painted exterior - has been empty since 2019.

Follies originally had four restaurants - with two in Folkestone and one in Dover.

It is not yet known what will occupy the new shops.

FHDC approved the application with conditions despite an objection from Hythe Town Council.

Documents state: "The Town Council have objected to the application, however they have not given a material planning reason for their decision.

"It is therefore considered, that in the absence of this, that the application can be determined under delegated powers."

However, before the unit is occupied, FHDC states an acoustic report must be submitted to "protect the amenities of future occupiers".

This is to prove that the ceiling and floor separating the residential and commercial unit shall not exceed a noise level of 53 decibels.