A health retreat could open on Herne Bay seafront in time for Christmas after councillors unanimously approved the proposal.

Detox specialist Galia Grainger resubmitted her plans for a centre on East Cliff Parade last summer.

She had previously had the scheme turned down, but council planning officials waved through the application on Tuesday.

Mrs Grainger said: “It could be open before Christmas.

“It took us more than two years to get the plans approved but it’s been worth it.

“It’s going to be a very visual boutique and marine-themed retreat.”

Mrs Grainger founded the Slimmeria detox retreat in Crowhurst, East Sussex.

It is dedicated to running luxury slimming and detox programmes.

The Herne Bay building will be the first time she has expanded her business and she thinks it will help improve the town.

It will be built on vacant land next to Spray Cottage.

Mrs Grainger, who thinks construction work could start in the summer, added: “We are not specifically targeting celebrity guests – they find us.

“If a Sheikh from Qatar or a singer wants to join our retreat, they will be treated the same as anyone else.

“If a Sheikh from Qatar or a singer wants to join our retreat, they will be treated the same as anyone else..." - Gaila Grainger

“It will be nice to raise the profile of Herne Bay.

“Our ethos is to make sure that our retreats are affordable to all people.

“We don’t want to target people with big pockets, we want it for everybody.”

Planning permission was turned down in 2014 after concerns were raised over the centre’s impact on the character of the area and nearby cottages.

A concerned resident, who lives in the adjacent Spray Cottage, voiced her concerns about the tweaked plans at the committee meeting on Tuesday.

She said: “My building will be very boxed in, overshadowed and somewhat in the dark with such an overbearing structure next to it.

“We are worried about the stability and security of the property.

“There is a total of about 19 rooms there and it seems too big and overbearing.”