Dozens of derelict garages said to resemble a “warzone” are set to be demolished – as council chiefs hope to replace them with affordable homes.

The 36 decrepit buildings in Tomlin Drive, Margate, have regularly been forced into and targeted by arsonists, vandals and fly-tippers.

Officials from Thanet District Council – which manages the structures – expect the plans to flatten the garages to save the authority cash as it routinely forks out money to battle the crime problem.

In the wake of the project being officially approved last week, Tory councillor David Wallin says the scheme will tidy up the area as the buildings are “a complete mess”.

“I’ve pushed for these garages to be demolished because of the state they’re in,” the Conservative said.

“They haven’t been used for storing cars – there were previously half a dozen vehicles in pieces around them.

“One garage was chock-a-block with rubbish, another’s been pulled down and the one next to that has basically been used as a skip – people were dumping anything they could in there.

“It looks like a warzone; it’s a complete mess.”

Since the decision to green light the scheme was issued, work to remove the unsightly buildings has already begun.

Planning documents penned by the district council show the garages – which are spread across three sites in Tomlin Drive – will be replaced by an unspecified number of properties after their demolition.

Proposals for the homes have not yet been revealed, but the authority stresses the clearing of the sites will pave the way for them to be redeveloped “without constraints”.

“The garages have been in pretty poor condition; it’s been pretty horrendous,” Cllr Wallin added.

“The sites are of a reasonable size – it’s a big area.

“Dozens of homes could be fit there. It’s a good idea.”

Council bosses say the garages have “been underused for many years” with the majority unlet for a considerable length of time.

They state the buildings are “in very poor condition”, having been subjected to “neglect and acts of vandalism over a sustained period”.

The authority thinks the sites have “significant potential to provide a revenue or capital return through the construction of new-build affordable housing”.

Documents add: “A number of TDC-owned underused garage sites have been identified for the purposes of redevelopment to provide additional affordable housing for people on the housing register.

“The new-builds will be retained within the council’s housing stock and let out to families at an affordable rent.

“The garage removals will provide a benefit to reduce the risks and liability to the authority and public through unauthorised entry, vandalism, arson and fly-tipping.

“A cleared site will improve the area by reducing the attraction of antisocial use and vandalism on the site.”