Plans for 195 waterfront homes and a cafe have been recommended for approval - but there would be no money for infrastructure or services such as schools, libraries and roads.

The application by Medway Development Company to redevelop the former site of Strood Civic Centre - Medway Council’s old headquarters - was submitted in February.

The plan includes 195 homes, consisting of 140 apartments and 55 houses and councillors will vote on it at a planning committee on December 18.

There would be 64 one-bedroom flats, 69 two-bedroom flats and seven three-bedroom flats, 13 two-bedroom houses, 28 three-bedroom houses and 14 four-bedroom houses.

The site was formerly occupied by the Invicta Engineering Works Factory, the Aveling and Porter headquarters, and the main offices of Medway Council - but it has been vacant for many years.

The buildings were demolished in anticipation of redevelopment and initial plans for housing were put forward in August last year.

A consultation took place in January before final versions were submitted for approval.

A quarter of the properties would be affordable housing - 11 one-bedroom and 16 two-bedroom affordable flats and 12 one-bedroom and 10 two-bedroom shared ownership flats.

Plans also include a cafe or bar and a workspace, and 142 parking spaces will be provided in a mix of car parks, on-street parking, garages and driveways.

The report from officers outlines up to £1.7 million in developer contributions could be asked for in return for permission to redevelop the site - including for education, community facilities such as the Strood Sports Centre and Strood Library, and infrastructure.

However, planning officers believe the cost to decontaminate the site as well as the 25% allocation of affordable housing poses such a significant amount that additionally requiring a Section 106 contribution would make the scheme unviable.

Officers believe the proposals to be so significantly beneficial to the redevelopment of the area that they are willing to forgo developer contributions in return for the plans as laid out with 25% affordable housing.

Therefore, they have recommended the application for approval on the grounds it is a high-quality design and would provide housing and regeneration of a brownfield site.

They say the redevelopment will not harm the character of the area, heritage assets, amenity or cause issues for the road network and contribute a long way to the regeneration of Strood.

The City of Rochester Society wrote to oppose the redevelopment, stating the designs are out of keeping with the area, and say the road network nor local education provision are sufficient to cope with the extra residents.

Councillors will make a decision on the proposals at the planning committee meeting on December 18.