There have been two major developments concerning the future of Sittingbourne town centre.

The consortium behind the £57 million regeneration has submitted two planning applications for large retail units, a drive-thru takeaway and a hotel.

And in a separate move, a developer has revealed plans to turn the derelict Bell Centre site into flats, a medical centre and a pharmacy.

Speaking at last night’s full council meeting, leader Cllr Andrew Bowles (Con) says construction work on the regeneration could start by the end of the year.

Spirit of Sittingbourne’s first application is for new shops and a drive-thru to go on the former Princes Street depot off Eurolink Way. This was previously used by waste management firm Biffa.

The second is for the hotel, to be built opposite the railway station, next to The Forum beside the planned eight-screen cinema and restaurants.

Potential occupiers of the new stores and a hotel company have not been identified.

Cllr Bowles said: “They’re both in. There are no reasons why we should not see cranes and diggers on these sites within 13 to 16 weeks.”

After the meeting he added that plans had been amended after negotiations with prospective tenants.

“These applications reflect their commitment to the scheme and our wider regeneration plans for the town,” he said.

“There is now a planning process to go through, which gives people the chance to have their say on the proposals through the usual consultation process.”

Meanwhile, plans to turn a town centre “eyesore” into three blocks of flats, a medical centre and a pharmacy have been unveiled.

Aria Group wants to redevelop the former Bell Centre and has revealed its intention to build 164 apartments.

It hopes to build three new buildings: one with 46 two-bed flats over four floors; another with a mix of 106 one and two-bed flats over six floors, with parking on the ground floor; and a third with 12 one or two-bed flats.

The medical centre would be built near the High Street and a pharmacy would open onto the High Street.

A significant amount of the development has been planned for what was previously a car park, next to the area used for parking by Sainsbury’s staff.

The Bell House offices would benefit from a refurb, while two two-bed flats would be added to it as an extra storey. However, just 58 parking spaces are planned.

Aria suggests there would be storage for bicycles which “provide potential to substitute car trips”.

The council’s policy says 10% of new homes in such a development should be affordable but Aria says that would not be viable and is proposing that no cut-price housing will be provided.

A planning application is due to be submitted in the near future.

Spirit development manager Fergus Pryor had previously said changes to the layout of St Michael’s Road would start in September and would pave the way for the rest of the project.

Cllr Mike Baldock (Ukip) warned that any roadworks should not disrupt the town’s Christmas trade.

“If the High Street is virtually inaccessible, they [traders] are going to face a very severe winter,” he added.

Earlier in the meeting, Cllr Roger Truelove (Lab) called on the council’s cabinet member for regeneration, Cllr Mike Cosgrove (Con), to improve communication about what was going on with the town centre regeneration, and to provide updates “not just when there’s something to boast about”.

“It has been our policy not to say anything unless we have something active to say,” replied Cllr Cosgrove.

“Listening to people in Sittingbourne, I think we should be, perhaps, talking to people more and talking to people in an approach that continues to take the vast majority of Sittingbourne residents with us.”