Controversial plans for a development previously blasted as a “bleak, unsympathetically-designed blob” have been recommended for approval by planning officers.

Sea Street Developments Ltd - headed by Whitstable Oyster Company boss James Green - submitted an application for two shops and seven apartments in a new building in Whitstable.

The four-storey complex would sit on the Hotel Continental’s overspill car park at the corner of Tower Parade and Beach Walk.

But residents have lodged concerns over pollution, parking and views being “obliterated”.

Despite this, Sea Street Developments insists the project will “enhance an important area”.

The application will be put before the city council’s planning committee on Tuesday, due to the 25 objections received.

The Whitstable Society, as well as residents, demanded the city council refuse the application because of its height.

Chair Graham Cox wrote: “We believe that good grounds can be put forward for objecting and the town will benefit from enforced redesign and/or the opinion of an inspector for this crucial proposal - and its implications north and west.”

But in the officer’s report on the bid, it states: “Taking into account the heights of nearby buildings, the proposed three/four-storey height is considered to relate appropriately to the surrounding context.

“The variation of height and stepped façade serves to modulate the building’s bulk, lessening the impact of its size and providing a more interesting built form.”

The Whitstable Society also argues the proposal would eliminate the Tower Parade building line, the retail units may be left empty and there would be a loss of parking. But officers raised no objections to these matters.

The design of the building includes black-boarded cladding, which the application says provides a “historic connection to the many fisherman’s buildings and beach huts”.

According to the application, the roof also references the Whitstable beach hut in an “entirely modern way”.

It states: “The proposed re-development preserves and enhances the character and appearance of the surrounding area, giving new life to an under-utilised formerly developed parcel of land.”

Planning officers said: “The design and materiality is considered to relate successfully with the immediate and wider architectural vernacular of Whitstable.”

A total of eight jobs will be created at ground floor retail units if the scheme - next door to the MFA bowling alley - is approved.

Above, there will be six two-bedroom flats and one three-bed apartment, double the size of the others

The design of the building includes black-boarded cladding, which the application says provides a “historic connection to the many fisherman’s buildings and beach huts”.

Officers also stated the retail premises shall not be used other than between 8am and 8pm, Monday to Saturday, and between 10am and 4pm on Sundays or bank holidays.

Tankerton councillor Neil Baker (Con) labelled it as a “bulky, unsympathetically-designed blob on the streetscape”, writing: “If permission were granted, this would be the only residential development on the seaward side of the road between Beach Walk and the harbour.

“While the site of the proposed development is not within the harbour estate, it is clearly within an area of ‘non-residential’ that includes the harbour.”

Police expressed “significant concerns” over the development layout, access control, lighting and CCTV.

Sea Street Developments previously said it “would not be appropriate” to comment on specific objections at this stage.

“Any legitimate concerns raised will be carefully considered as the application progresses through the planning process,” a spokesperson said.

“We are, however, confident that the proposals for the the site will enhance an important area in Whitstable.”

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