A hotel that appears to float above the ground is to be built on Chatham waterfront.

The hotel is planned for a site on the corner of Medway Street and Globe Lane, next to the new bus station.

Architects' plans for the building show it will standing partly on a ground-floor reception plinth and partly on a set of pillars to give the "floating" effect.

The plans for the 86-bed hotel have been drawn up by John Lyall Architects of London.

They include three other large riverside buildings with 80 one and two-bedroom flats and commercial premises.

The architects have stressed that the plans are subject to internal changes.
However, they include rooftop terraces, internal car lifts and central parking surrounded by living accommodation.

The residential and commercial blocks are planned between the present Staples store and Globe Lane.

They include the Rats Bay pumping station and Piggy's - a plot of land owned by the Watts Charity.

The plans have been drawn up for Medway Council's regeneration organisation Medway Renaissance and the A2Dominion Group.

Medway Renaissance is being wound up and this is likely to be one of its last development proposals.

A2Dominion is new to the Medway Towns, but says it has built high-quality affordable housing, as well as multi-million pound projects.

A spokesman said: "We look forward to seeing Medway flourish as a desirable, high quality environment where people want to live, building on its rich heritage and fantastic prospects."