The design brief for Strood Waterfront will go to public consultation.

Cabinet members opted to send the updated design brief to get comments from the public on the plans to change the shape of Strood Waterfront.

The original brief was put forward in 2006 and after consultation with local businesses, the new design brief was presented to cabinet.

Once approved, it will be used as a guide for any future developers who wish to build on the land.

The vision is for 1,400 apartments and 200 houses to be built on the stretch from Jane’s Creek to the Riverside Tavern.

Plans for the former civic centre include retail and employment opportunities as well as residential.

A restaurant or bar could be connected to a potential hotel facing Rochester Bridge while Watermill Gardens will be left as public open space.

The planning document uses photos of various examples of how the development could look and includes images from Southampton Waterfront and Dublin Docks.

The council, which owns the land, consulted with businesses, residents and other interested parties to highlight issues that need addressing before the plan was put together.

Councillors were pleased to be presented with the updated draft at the cabinet meeting and are looking forward to receiving public feedback.

Cllr Jane Chitty, portfolio holder for planning and ward councillor for Strood north, said: “I really welcome this consultation going out.

“There is much interest in what is going to happen along the front and we are working on other plans for Strood.

“When we opened the innovation centre a few weeks ago everybody said ‘this is brilliant, why can’t we carry it on along the river to get it looking as it should be.

“This consultation gives people the opportunity to say precisely how they see Strood in the coming years.”

Tomorrow, the planning committee will discuss plans to put new flood defences in to protect any future buildings on the waterfront.