A developer’s plans to bulldoze a former Woolworths to make way for flats will be decided in a crunch meeting.

London-based Impact Developments hope to demolish the former Faversham shop and build a four-storey complex made up of 23 flats.

If successful, the existing structure behind the Multi Save store in Market Street, and the large unit behind the site, will be flattened for new retail space inside the replacement building.

Impact, which owns the land, launched the planning bid to Swale Borough Council in March and it was expecting to go before planning chiefs in June.

But it will now go before committee in December after the council and developer finish hammering out negotiations.

“Planning applications, including this development, can only be approved once the funding for necessary infrastructure enhancements has been secured through developer contributions, known as Section 106 agreements,” a spokesman for the authority said.

“Our officers are currently negotiating Section 106 matters.”

Details from the planning application reveal: "The existing 'two-storey' facade is a very poor 1950s insertion that was never in keeping with the street scene, in either scale or materials.

"It was also false at the upper floor, being a propped brick facade with nothing behind it.

"The design of the new facade is intended to strengthen the street scene through appropriate detailing, proportionate storey heights - having no consistent levels to replicate - and an appropriate overall massing.

"At ground level, an entrance to the residential units has been introduced with independent expression to the retail component, allowing residents to access from Market Street.

"This creates a far better functional relationship between the front and rear residential components than previously."

It is envisaged there will be a four-storey building connected via a garden area to the new retail unit and three additional floors above to provide three more flats.

The new block will be built adjacent to the Central Car Park where 20 flats will be constructed.

Documents state Impact Developments Faversham Ltd wants to "address the significant housing shortage" in the town and add on to a "well-established thriving community".

The firm added: "In line with suggestions made after the second pre-application, the upper level has been set back, a parapet was introduced with the set back top floor now subservient, reducing its dominance on the street scene.

"Additionally, window distribution at this level has been reduced from four to three, creating subordinance at this level, making it in keeping with the wider contextual themes.

"We have introduced brick gables to each flank, creating a strong threshold at the boundary at a high level, retaining the individual character of each defined plot.

"Window systems have been rationalised to remain consistent throughout, again, identifying each facade by style as well as form."

The 23 new homes will comprise eight one-bedroom units, 13 two-bedroom flats and two three-bedroom apartments all of which will be for the open market, application forms state.

The plans have been reduced since initial discussions with Swale council started in 2021 when developers had proposed a building with another storey and filling the entire site.

All ground-floor apartments would have access to semi-screened private amenity areas and all units above them will have either balconies or roof terrace areas.

But all residents will have access to a communal garden on the roof.

Rear access would be via Leslie Smith Drive, which also feeds the public car park neighbouring the site by Faversham Pools.

The complex will only retain two disabled car parking spaces and two bays for a car club facility but proposes storage for 23 bicycles.

The Faversham branch of Woolworths closed in January 2009 after the firm went into administration.

More than 1,000 people signed a petition against the closure of the town's store.