Fears were raised over giving “a world-famous provocative artist free rein” to design his own home - just moments before it was approved.

Mr Doodle, who has £3.2 million Instagram followers, will use his unique designs to decorate the exterior of the eye-catching home set for Dungeness.

The artist, whose real name is Sam Cox, had his plan for the three-bedroom structure, incorporating railway carriages and laser-cut doodles, green lit by members of Folkestone and Hythe District Council’s (FHDC) planning committee on Tuesday (March 18).

But concerns over the potential harm on the landscape and the look of the development were raised.

Among those speaking at the meeting was resident Dee Miller, who said: “The applicant is frank about his ambition.

“He told the Financial Times ‘I want my work to consume as much of the planet as it can. I hope to buy a string of houses across the world and doodle over each of them’.

“Giving a world-famously provocative artist free rein to create whatever size and design of doodle he wishes feels deeply risky.

“He's made a public commitment that the doodles will be visually subtle and only recognisable from a close distance.

“These are welcome words, of course, but they're not binding. Tonight, we ask for this committee's help in ensuring that this promised subtlety is delivered.

“A 15 cm doodle might be for the applicant's private enjoyment. An 80 cm doodle is an advert for his business and has no place in a conservation area.”

The scheme will see an existing home replaced, with Mr Doodle’s designs covering the exterior of the new build.

More than 40 objections were logged on FHDC’s planning portal after the plans were submitted.

One labelled it a “vanity project” with no artistic inspiration or “spiritual understanding” of the beach location.

Another likened the plans to the “Disneyfication” of Dungeness.

Three letters of support were also submitted.

The architect behind the project, Guy Hollaway, insisted the plans would celebrate the unique area of Dungeness.

Speaking at the planning meeting, he said: “What Sam has done is pick out the unique characteristics of Dungeness, which are all depicted in the work.

“I agree wholeheartedly with the residents that we have tremendous responsibility.

“Dungeness is a unique, special place and we feel we’ve designed the building form in the vernacular of the place.

“Sam is a homegrown talent of international reputation and I think we should allow him to celebrate that and celebrate the legacy of artists before him in this unique location.”

Mr Hollaway also offered to produce a scale panel demonstrating the property's exterior to residents.

Councillors debated over what officers admitted was a finely balanced application due to its position in a conservation area and the increase of 16% in the building footprint.

Cllr Nicola Keen (Lab) said: “If this building was anywhere else, I’d be voting for it this evening.

“I think this is so sad that we’re going to change the outlook of that area so although I love the design, I’m going to be voting against this.”

Cllr Mike Thomas (Ind) expressed confidence in approving the application with the addition of conditions to firm up the subtlety of the designs.

He added: “In terms of visual amenities, we have to take the concerns onboard and after hearing from the speakers tonight, I think we are all on the same page.

“Conservation areas can evolve over time, and this area has - so I welcome a condition limiting the size of the doodle to make it less intrusive, that confirms the subtleness meets both our and residents' requirements.”

The application was approved with nine votes for and three against the proposal.

After the meeting, a spokesman for architects, Hollaway Studios, added: “This is a truly unique project where art meets architecture in an exceptional location where we hope Sam (Mr Doodle) will follow in the legacy of other artists drawn to this place.

“We are delighted with the decision of the members.”

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The approval of the scheme was delayed slightly after it was revealed in January the project had not been adequately advertised, due to a lack of notices placed in Dungeness.

As such, additional posters were erected close to the application site.

Mr Cox, a former pupil at Homewood School in Tenterden, lives in St Michaels with his son and wife Alena in a mansion he has covered from top to bottom in black-and-white doodles.

Other artists to have flocked to Dungeness include Derek Jarman, whose former home Prospect Cottage remains on the shingle following his death.

Ed Sheeran also purchased a converted railway carriage in Dungness, where he has installed a recording studio.