Employment opportunites could be on the way soon for east Kent after the approval of a £12million retail development at Whitfield, which is likely to create about 120 jobs when the stores and restaurant open on the White Cliffs Business Park.

The district council planning committee has given the scheme the go-ahead, on the provision outstanding details are finalised.

Direct Line Properties and Parkridge Developments are behind the development and Parkridge's development director David Carvey said: "We look forward to finally starting on this long awaited project and injecting some much needed investment and additional retail offer into the town."

Councillors discussed the plans for more than an hour and development control manager Tim Flisher described the application as "a complex matter".

Cllr Mark Furnival was against the proposals, which the 21-page report revealed were contrary to a variety of planning policies.

He said: "In the 16 years I have been on the council we have always tried to protect the White Cliffs Business Park as employment land.

"This plan is contrary to the Development Plan and our Core Strategy. We need to be very careful before we make a decision." But other councillors disagreed.

Cllr Charles Kirby said: "I would take 120 jobs any day rather than an empty site in our current economic climate. Employment must be a major and significant concern."

The plans are for two terraced blocks of stores selling bulky goods, like fridge freezers, restricting goods sold to avoid harming Dover town centre. There is also a restaurant, not a take-away, on the site.

* For full story buy this week's Dover Mercury.