Plans to turn a town centre plot that's been an eyesore for more than a decade into flats and a pharmacy have been amended to include a larger medical centre.

Aria Group was granted planning permission in 2021 to redevelop the former Bell Centre site in Sittingbourne.

A total of 165 apartments are still planned to be built, in three blocks, but the applicant wants to make "minor amendments", including having fewer parking spaces for residents.

Changes to the plans also include the expansion of the proposed medical centre and pharmacy.

The Aria Group secured planning permission in March last year for a proposed mixed-use development which also included parking, landscaping, the refurbishment of Bell House with retention of offices and an additional storey.

A statement by JTS Partnership, on behalf of the Aria Group, said: "Along with our design team we have been looking at the approved scheme and re-assessing the operational requirements for the medical centre, pharmacy and improvements to the overall scheme.

"The changes proposed ensure that the scheme remains well designed, highly sustainable and makes the most efficient use of this brownfield site."

The proposed changes to the approved scheme include internal layout changes to all three blocks.

The first is for an additional five flats within block one to provide a total of 52 homes.

Internal layout changes are also proposed to fit an extra seven flats in block two making a total of 113 flats.

Block three was initially set to have 12 affordable housing units, however, these will now be moved to block one.

The third block would become the dedicated medical centre with a pharmacy, which remains approved under the previous permission.

JTS Partnership explained: "The medical centre footprint has been extended to front Bell Road and would be located over three floors.

"The requirement for a larger medical centre is strongly supported by the NHS and Chestnut Surgery which is not fit for purpose.

"The pharmacy space would occupy the available space at the third and fourth floor levels."

Bell House's existing offices are now set to be refurbished for commercial use only.

The three flats previously proposed on the new top floor of Bell House have been moved to block two and the approved extra storey will be used as more office space.

The office space is being marketed by Regus and is due to be available from April next year.

Previously, the permitted scheme included 100 parking spaces but it is now proposed to reduce them to 92.

Changes to the parking layout include the removal of one level of basement parking under block two.

JTS Partnership said: "The permitted scheme allowed for two floors of underground parking in block two which risked disturbing the water table.

"The parking area has been redesigned on one level only, 25 spaces would be dedicated to the Medical Centre and the remaining 67 would be available for residents.

"In addition, 15 spaces would be dedicated to the offices at Bell House."

The Bell Centre was built in the 1970s and was once home to Sainsbury's.

The building was demolished in stages in the mid-2000s and has been the subject of at least two major plans that never saw fruition, including a Travelodge hotel.

For more on Aria Group's plans, visit Swale council's planning portal and enter 22/504697/FULL.