Ambitious plans to transform former railway arches and a petrol station have been submitted for planning permission.

Under the proposals, the Shell garage on the corner of London Road and Cuxton Road, Strood, would be demolished to make way for a block of 48 apartments.

Those behind the scheme, Park Garage Group PLC, would also like to see seven neighbouring railway arches re-purposed into commercial space.

The site also currently includes a car sales forecourt and a car washing service, while Yards Autos is based in the railways arches.

The applicant, Park Garage Group, operates the petrol station at the application site and another one in Strood High Street.

The planning application states: "The company has no need for two sites...as both serve the same catchment and market.

"The removal of one of the two sites will simply mean the existing trade from the application site moves to the company’s other site at 39 High Street.

"As such, it is not considered that there is unacceptable loss of fuel retailing provision in the town to the detriment of local residents."

With regards to the other existing businesses the planning application states: "These are all on short-term leases and are associated automotive uses benefitting from proximity to the existing garage.

"In this respect, there is no requirement for the car sales, carwash or tyre repair uses to be located in this location.

"As such, it is not considered the loss of the existing uses should count against the development."

The ground floor of the development would also include commercial space.

The five-storey building would have a central courtyard which would have parking underneath. There would be just 19 spaces for the 48 flats.

The planning application says the aim is to create a development which is "not car dependent".

The 19 car parking spaces would be allocated to the two and three-bedroom flats "with the theory being that the larger units may require a car for family related reasons, whilst the majority of the smaller units are more likely to have a single occupant or couples that do not require private transport."

On the transformation of the arches, a design statement says: "Railway arches have lots of character and utilising these elements will make the scheme come alive and turn the site into a destination.

"A modest frontage is provided in the arches encouraging their use for outdoor seating."

There application has so far received two letters of objection. One raises concerns about parking and also the height of the building being "one storey too high overpowering the street scene."

People can still have their say on the plans at medway.gov.uk. The application number is MC/21/3055.

The plans are due to be decided by Thursday, January 28.

Shell and Yards Autos have been contacted for a comment.

To see more public notices, click here.

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