Plans to transform a prominent pair of businesses close to a Kent seafront have been given the go-ahead after being described as "bold and quirky".

Developer Jamie Copland decided to redraw his designs for the units in Belgrave Road, Margate, in the wake of criticisms his vision was "garish" and among the ugliest residents had ever seen.

Originally he wanted to add a 10-flat extension to the site - which is currently home to Dreamland Beds and Lobster Van Hire - while also turning the entire structure bright orange and green.

The project was sent back to the drawing board by Thanet councillors sitting on the authority's planning committee last month.

But after tweaking the colour scheme to "muted" browns and vowing not to attach a sign stating "the fun starts here" on the building, the scheme was green-lit at a meeting last night.

Speaking in support of the scheme, Cllr Reece Pugh said: "The applicant has been incredibly keen to overcome many of the hurdles and concerns members raised last time.

“I think we need to be bold, we need to appreciate that this is a landowner and a developer who wants to come in and create something unique and different for Margate.”

Despite Mr Copland's amendments, council officers recommended the committee snub the scheme.

They argued the changes and "muted colour scheme make no alterations to the height or scale of the building".

The officials stated the development would be neither "bold nor unique", adding that it would have "an incongruous, dominant and overbearing impact".

And before Mr Copland made the alterations, neighbour Geraldine Scott branded them "an eyesore".

Independent councillor David Hart also said: "It's the ugliest building I have ever seen. I also think it's garish.

"I don’t object to modern - but I just think it’s too tall, too overdeveloped, and should be toned down a bit."

Jason Evans, who runs Dreamland Beds and Lobster Van Hire, also revealed towards the end of last year he was "struggling to find suitable premises" for the business.

Papers show the amount of commercial space on the site will be cut by 311 m sq.

However at the meeting this week, members praised the new designs.

Conservative councillor Paul Moore said "the quirkiness of the building blends in with the arcade scenery we’ve got there, which is part of what Margate is".

"I think we need to be bold, we need to appreciate that this is a landowner and a developer who wants to come in and create something unique and different for Margate..."

Labour's Rick Everitt added: "The previous rear of the building looked like a football stadium to me.

"I think it doesn’t look like that now which is a good thing.

"I don’t think what appeared to be a football stadium in the middle of Margate was necessarily a good idea.”

All but two committee members voted to approve the scheme.