A tools shop is set to be knocked down to make way for a town centre social housing project.

Plans have been approved for the unit last occupied by Lakedale Power Tools to be converted into new homes in Westgate Road, Dartford.

An application was submitted by property and construction consultancy Ridge and Partners, on behalf of Dartford council, in October last year.

The development has since been given the go-ahead and work will start on demolishing the vacant discount store which last used the plot opposite Pizza Hut at Prospect Place retail park.

It will feature a four-storey apartment block comprising three one-bed and three two-bed apartments.

A second building will also be four storeys and will be made up of three four-bedroom townhouses.

The DIY discount branch, which still has two stores in London and Sidcup, stopped trading in Westgate Road having opened in 2015.

Dartford council will now develop the brownfield land currently occupied by the store and turn it into social housing.

The planning statement states: "The layout and scale of the proposed development has been carefully considered to make effective and efficient use of the site, whilst respecting local context and ensuring there are no significant impacts to adjacent properties.

"[It] provides a range of usable size and good quality private amenity spaces including private rear gardens, balconies and terraces.

"All dwellings provided will encapsulate modern living needs".

To see more planning applications and other public notices for your area, click here.

The project will provide five off-street parking spaces - one for each townhouse - and a further two being shared between the residents of the two-bedroom flats.

However, no spaces will be given to those living in the one-bedroom flats after developers and Dartford council agreed the site’s plot in the town centre was sufficient.

Meanwhile, 14 cycle spaces and six electric vehicle charging points will be included in the plans.

The development's approval comes four years after a similar proposal at the site was rejected.

A proposal for 10 homes was quashed in April 2019 due to unsafe pedestrian access, inadequate parking provision and a lack of outdoor amenity space.