Multi-million pound plans to redevelop a derelict cinema site into 166 new homes have come under threat after dozens of people objected.

More than 70 people have aired their thoughts on the £72million redevelopment of the former ABC Cinema in the heart of Tunbridge Wells.

Plans to revamp the site in Mount Pleasant Road have been in the pipeline for years, but earlier this year an official proposal for an eight-storey retirement village with a café, outdoor space, hydrotherapy pool, spa and gym was submitted.

However, since the plans have been made public many disgruntled neighbours who have taken to the local authority's planning portal to object to the 'monstrous' development, as well as the Town Forum and the Royal Tunbridge Wells Civic Society.

John Atwood, from the town, said the building would "blight" the town centre.

"I object strongly to the proposal, as an architect and until recently a resident of my home town," he said.

"The proposal too is tall, too dense, too banal in its composition. It would blight this key central site in Tunbridge Wells with an out-of-scale and bland over-development, completely driven by development greed."

While the Royal Tunbridge Wells Town Forum added: "We have serious misgivings about the failure of this proposal to provide significant benefit to the wider community in the town.

"A C2 project would escape the obligation to contribute towards desperately needed affordable housing and the viability report proposes that other social benefits to the town."

Dr Michael Holman, of Mayfield Road, wrote: "The more I look at the submission, the less I like what is being proposed.

"Even with reduced height, it is a monstrous development for the centre of town, architecturally oppressive and totally the wrong kind of usage for a key town centre location.

"We have not waited 20 years for this hideous development pile – a huge collection of town centre rabbit hutches with a prison exercise yard at their centre.

"Better nothing for a few more years, rather than this for another 50, even if it were to have an iconic water feature and eye-catching public art at its centre."

The plans come from Retirement Villages Group (RVG) which is owned by AXA IM Alts.

Stuart MacDonald, of Calverley Park Crescent, said: "An iconic town centre site should be developed to provide facilities to not only attract locals but also visitors in an effort to boost the economy of the town.

"While understanding the provision for extra care retirement such establishments can surely be accommodated in out-of-town sites and still accommodate the needs of such communities.

In April, a public consultation was held to find out people's views on the plans, which would see a new public space with a central courtyard for residents and the wider community to enjoy.

Additionally, the transformation of the former cinema site, which has been empty for 23 years, will be a net zero carbon project – so it will be net zero carbon across both its development and operational lifespan.

The plans would also reactivate the ground floor fronting Mount Pleasant Road and Church Road, with nine retail units available for independent businesses.

Development manager at RVG, Caroline Keiller, previously commented the company wanted to make create a viable development to "bring the long-dormant site back to life and contribute long-term benefits to the town centre".

Documents reveal there are also plans for basement parking to hold 60 cars.

The last proposal, prepared by Elysian Residences, gained planning permission for 99 flats, but the firm pulled out before building them.

The old ABC cinema closed in 1999 and was demolished in 2014.