Plans to transform a former private hospital into housing have been approved.

The Somerfield Hospital in London Road, Maidstone, shut its doors to patients in April last year, with operator BMI Healthcare cancelling procedures at short notice.

During a Maidstone Borough Council planning meeting, councillors approved plans to convert the building into 60 apartments.

Demolition of 79 London Road, which is next to the listed hospital, and the erection of a replacement three-storey building for apartments and six townhouses was also given the green light.

There would be a low level of ‘less than substantial’ harm to the interior of the main building, Somerfield Terrace, which is Grade II-listed, a committee report said.

Modern buildings behind Somerfield Terrace will be demolished.

A gym and bicycle store will also be built.

The scheme was passed with seven votes for and six against during the meeting earlier in December.

Conditions imposed include eight visitor parking spaces to the front of the site and three extra electric car charging points, bringing the total to 11.

More details have also been requested about the number and location of solar panels.

The committee report read: "The density of the development would not result in any harm to the character or appearance of the local area and there would be no unacceptable impacts upon neighbouring amenity."

Concerns raised by residents had included a lack of infrastructure in the area and increased traffic and congestion. The site is near traffic lights at the crossroads with Queen's Road and Leafy Lane, which leads to London Road Retail Park and Brunswick House Primary School.

The 38-bed hospital closed after losing patients to other healthcare providers in the county town, causing what were described at the time as "financial challenges".

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