Plans for an indoor trampoline park, which will create more than 60 jobs, have taken a leap forward after councillors voted to approve the plans.

The activity centre, to be called Soar, will be based in an empty warehouse in Courteney Road, Gillingham.

Councillors ignored planning officers’ recommendation to refuse the application as it would result in the loss of “important industrial floorspace”.

Although approved, the plans will have to come before the planning committee again, once planners have put a list of recommendations together.

The council received four letters of objection to the plans, which raised concerns about noise and parking, but they were also sent 12 letters of support for the proposal.

Supporters argue that the park will provide a great opportunity for families and children and help encourage people to keep fit.

Cllr Barry Kemp, who represents Rainham Central, the ward the proposed park falls into, gave his support at Wednesday night’s planning committee meeting.

He said: “The industrial use of this site has already been lost and there is widespread support for this application from local schools, autistic organisations and fostering agencies.”

He added that, if approved, the site would be turned into a vibrant facility which would provide entertainment for the community.

Cllr David Royle also said the site will generate more jobs than the building did when it was used for industrial purposes.

“Nobody at all is being employed there at the moment and this investment is revamping what is obviously a very tired unit.”

In the initial planning application, TBH Real Estate Investments said the centre would provide 45 jobs, but this has been increased to 64, based on advice from equipment manufacturers.

Blueprints show it would have around 100 interconnected wall-to-wall trampolines.

The centre would offer general bounce sessions, fitness classes, tutoring, children’s parties, corporate team building, parent and toddler sessions and disco nights.

The people behind plans have already set up a website, which advertises it is opening in May, and has attracted interest from more than 400 people on its Facebook page.