A 1930s dance hall in Folkestone is no longer under threat of demolition after plans for six retirement flats were turned down by Shepway planners.

The historic Dance Easy Studio in The Bayle will be able to continue as a base for the community after developers Charlier Construction had their proposals refused on the grounds it was “unsustainable.”

More than 200 people, including Folkestone Town Council and the head teacher of St Eanswythe’s Primary School Jane Garrett, objected to the application.

The congested cul-de-sac, which is also a hot-spot for parents parking to pick up and drop off their children at the school is also part of a conservation area.

The proposals did not have any parking provision.

A planning statement released by senior planning officer Julian Ling said: “The development is considered to be an unsustainable development that would result in visual harm to the conservation area, result in the loss of a social community facility and be harmful to resident’s amenities.

“As such, the development would be contrary to the local plan and policy and is therefore recommended for refusal.”

The official refusal document is attached to the planning application on the Shepway planning portal.

It said: “The proposed development is unacceptable in principle for planning policy reasons and the Local Planning Authority does not consider that there are any amendments that can be made to the scheme to overcome this.”

Manager of the hall Deborah Nash said: “Dance Easy is dancing for joy.

"It just goes to show you should always fight for what you care about.

“SDC refused the application today, now to battle the appeals.”