Plans to replace “damp” and “inadequate” maisonettes with a new apartment block next to a major supermarket have been approved.

An application was submitted to Medway Council for 14 new homes in Connaught Road, Gillingham.

The proposal was submitted in June last year.

It has now given the green light by planning officers and the apartments will be built directly next to Gillingham's Aldi supermarket, near the railway station.

The plot currently features a row of three-terraced houses in the form of six one-bedroom maisonettes.

They will now be demolished to make way for a four-storey apartment block containing 14 apartments.

Information from developers on the application's planning statement says the site is '"under-developed" and therefore needs to be "rejuvenated".

They added: "The current flats suffer greatly from damp and rooms that do not abide to the nationally described space standards.

“The current building is therefore considered inadequate, but there is an opportunity to redevelop the site and rejuvenate the street scene to provide the much-needed housing stock numbers in Medway."

Of the 14 new homes, 12 will be one-bedroom in size with a two and three-bedroom home also forming part of the development.

A large communal garden will also provided at the rear of the site.

However, no parking spaces have been designated for future occupants in the proposal.

The proposal was submitted by DHA Planning, on behalf of Wealth Management.