Ambitious plans to revamp Strood Riverside could be given the go-ahead tonight.

Medway Council’s cabinet will decide on whether 1,400 apartments and 200 houses are built on the stretch from Jane’s Creek to the Riverside Tavern.

The proposals could be key to helping the local authority meet the Towns’ future housing needs.

The detailed proposals to be discussed show how Kingswear Gardens and Strood Riverside will be used for residential buildings.

The former civic centre site will be used for retail and employment and the High Street will be extended.

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.

These included access to the station, road capacity and the possibility of blocking residents’ views.

A river walk or cycle route was well received and residents were keen on the civic centre site being used.

The planning brief reads: “Strood Waterfront represents a significant brownfield redevelopment opportunity and has the potential to assist the wider regeneration of the town.

“These sites will be transformed into an area of prime, high-quality residential land with potential for premium housing, offering fantastic views and access to the River Medway, Rochester Castle and Rochester Cathedral.

“Development at Strood Waterfront is a vital and complementary component to other regeneration projects elsewhere within Medway.”

A total of £12.5 million of government funding would to be used in the development, which includes flood protection works.

Council planners have prepared defence suggestions for the former civic centre and riverside sites.

These include sheet-piled river walls, raised land levels and realigned highways.

The cabinet will meet tonight to discuss the options.

It will either approve the plan to go for public consultation or wait for the Local Plan to be released until 2019.