Plans to turn an empty community centre into a shop have been approved - almost two years after the same scheme was rejected.

The site, known as Heysham Hall, in Lydd-on-Sea on Romney Marsh, has sat vacant for years - despite owners charging just £5 an hour for groups to hire the space.

Applicant Bhupendra Manani submitted fresh plans to Folkestone and Hythe District Council (FHDC) in February after his previous application was rejected in September 2022.

CLArchitects, which drew up the plans on behalf of the applicant, says the site in Taylor Road has “faced many complications”.

“Following the conversion of the retail shop into the community centre in 2012, the community centre has been underutilised,” it said.

“It is evident there is no demand for rent of this unit as community use, and there were no enquiries for such during the 24 months of advertising.

“The site has remained unlet despite genuine and sustained attempts to find a suitable tenant.”

The community centre has been advertised since February 3 at a rate of £13,500 per year.

The plans were approved last week by FHDC.

But some residents have raised concerns over the new shop and say they "anticipate a high level of parking chaos" in the summer.

Martin and Monica Hyder believe there are not enough parking spaces for the new store.

In an objection comment submitted to the council, they said: “Why can we not keep Heysham Hall for our community?

“Having another shop would bring far too many cars to the area, there is simply not enough space.

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“The closure of the centre has forced people who used to enjoy the facility to go somewhere else.”

Alan and Janet Reid have also commented against the plans.

They said: “Given the influx of visitors in the summer months, I anticipate high levels of chaos in this small area.

“We badly need to restrict parking on these roads to deter visitor parking who often stay for long periods.”

In 2022, FHDC’s planning committee voted unanimously to reject it.

A previous application for the same changes was also refused by the authority in 2021.

But now FHDC says “there is no longer the demand for a community use”.

The planning officer who approved the scheme said the applicant will need to provide one extra parking space.

It is unclear what type of shop will open in the space, but the site was previously home to a Premier convenience store.