Plans to tear down a row of popular shops and erect a four-floor block in its place appear set to be given the green light.

JDP Limited wants to flatten the units - including dance school Stage Door Arts (SDA), a Pilgrims Hospices shop and the old Simply Danish furniture store – in Ramsgate High Street.

The developer hopes to replace them with a building comprising five reduced-sized retailers and 39 flats – which it insists will be in keeping with the rest of the area.

But the scheme attracted dozens of objections, amid fears town centre roads will be overloaded with parked cars.

Despite this, Thanet District Council bosses have thrown their weight behind the project and recommended the authority's planning committee vote it through.

In a newly released document, officials argue: "No parking is proposed, which is acceptable due to the town centre location of the site.

"Although we would consider some harm is still caused here the overall benefit of the regeneration outweighs this.

"It is considered that the proposal will achieve an appropriate mix in the size and type of housing given the position of the redevelopment."

The council officers also argue “there would be some modest economic and social benefits” created by the scheme.

They note the development will feature no affordable housing - but that JDP has demonstrated it would not be financially viable to include cheaper homes.

Planning papers lodged by JDP show thirty-four of the flats will have just one bedroom, prompting local Terence Huckstep to brand the properties "little more than rabbit hutches".

“The surrounding streets would provide little opportunity for parking and would blight the area if used," he said.

"The flats themselves appear little more than rabbit hutches providing an over-populated small space.

“I am unaware if these are rental or purchase properties, but would strongly suggest this awful use of space for capitalist gain is rejected for a more sustainable and thought-out proposal.”

Simply Danish owner Flemming Moberg also claims none of the tenants running the high street premises were consulted about the project before it was unveiled.

His business relocated in November, while Cats in Crisis, which occupied one of the other affected units, was due to go elsewhere by the end of September before its lease ended.

Heidi Moran, who runs the space SDA shares with a community boutique, believes the “development is not needed”.

"This site offers a sound opportunity to significantly enhance the special character and appearance of the conservation area..."

“The area is starting to thrive, with cafés, galleries, shops and delis opening,” she explained.

“Our space is a thriving community hub. SDA has 250 students ranging from zero to 18 years old, plus adult classes. These people mostly live locally and walk to classes.

“We took the building on in March 2020 – with a long lease – in the hope it would be our long-term home. This would be a huge loss to the community.”

Drawings show the five ground-floor commercial units will have a total floor space of about 480 m sq – as opposed to the 1,500 m sq the businesses currently command.

JDP stresses in documents submitted to the local authority that all of the remaining tenants “will be offered alternative accommodation” available from its portfolio of properties.

“This site offers a sound opportunity to significantly enhance the special character and appearance of the conservation area,” bosses of the firm state.

“Pilgrims Hospices occupy by far the largest tenancy and have indicated their business would benefit from larger premises.

“We are negotiating the purchase of a large commercial building adjacent to the site which will provide the charity with sufficient space.

“The remaining tenants will be offered the new units or an off-site alternative.”

The application is set to go before the district council's planning committee this Thursday.