Plans to redevelop a disused shopping centre and multi-storey car park have been given the green light.

Medway councillors approved plans to demolish the Trafalgar Centre in Chatham High Street to make way for 175 apartments.

The neighbouring multi-storey car park in Rhode Street is also due to be partially torn down.

Aylesford-based Terence Butler Holdings had applied to Medway Council to build three blocks featuring one and two bedroom flats, co-working spaces, and creative arts studios facing onto the High Street.

Last month, councillors had been due to make a decision on the plans, but they requested more details on how the design would look against pre-existing buildings in the town centre.

During a meeting on Wednesday, councillors were shown a series of mocked-up images from different vantage points and were largely happy with what they saw.

However, Cllr Simon Curry (Lab) was among those who voted against the plans. He said he didn't think the proposals satisfied the council's Chatham Town Centre Masterplan, explaining how the document from 2019 sets out how the area ought to remain, a "low-rise town".

Historic England originally raised concerns over how the view from the Naval War Memorial on the Great Lines would be impacted by the height of the development.

The highest block was originally planned to be 11 storeys high but this was later reduced to eight. The original plans also included 200 apartments.

Cllr Adrian Gulvin (Con), is the director of Medway Development Company (MDC), the council's construction arm which is leading on much of the town's redevelopment.

He said the Trafalgar Centre is "a site which has been crying out for development for a long time", adding: "This is probably the first major private sector development that has come into Chatham for a long time.

"We have shown we are willing to invest in Chatham as a council and I think that's acted as a catalyst."

Cllr Stephen Hubbard (Lab) - who also voted against the plans - said he didn't like the fact that there was no commitment for any affordable homes.

He said: "I'm not quite sure who we are serving, but it doesn't seem to be serving the people who live in the Medway Towns at the moment.

Head of planning Dave Harris explained how the decision had been made by his team about how much affordable housing could be allowed and how much the council would receive in developer's contributions.

They had settled on £500,000 in Section 106 contributions, which includes money towards doctors surgeries, and improvements for transport and green spaces, including at The Paddock and Chatham Waterfront.

The plans passed with 13 votes for and two against.

The proposals were submitted in "outline" meaning more detailed plans will have to be considered at a later stage.