A shop will be allowed to keep its new frontage despite planning officers claiming it lacks “finesse”.

MPH Accountants had updated its storefront in Northdown Road, Margate, after the previous occupant Kent Scuba moved out.

However, this had been done without council approval and the building sits within a protected conservation area.

The new shopfront realigns the door closer to the pavement with a large aluminium sign and modern windows replacing the traditional wooden front.

Planning officer Annabel Hemmings criticised the redesign for removing these traditional elements.

“It is modern in appearance and it now sits flush with the pavement, so the slanted shopfront is gone," she said.

“It is appreciated there as a mixture of shopfronts of different designs and characters within the conservation area.

“It is considered by officers to lack the finesse of the traditional shopfront.

“The site does lie within the conservation area. It isn’t listed but it is acknowledged to be a building of historic interest and it was a positive building in the area.”

But Cllr Steve Albon (Lab) said: “I live just off Northdown Road and use it regularly, and there’s always been an eclectic mix of shopfronts and different businesses.

“I don’t mean to laugh but to use the word ‘finesse’ for Northdown Road is slightly over the top.”

In the application itself, planning consultants Tony Michael argue "the area is characterised by poor, varied and low quality shop fronts", giving pictures of neighbouring properties as examples.

Cllr Harry Scobie (Lab) urged the committee to use “common sense” and approve the shopfront.

And Cllr Jill Bayford (Con) said: “I have to say there’s quite a variety of different shopfronts. I don’t find it particularly unattractive and there are a lot of benefits.

“I accept it isn’t traditional like the previous shopfront, but I personally can’t see a lot of harm in this new one.”

But David Hart (Con) blasted the applicant, Leo Michael, for seeking retrospective approval.

“I think its a shame to lose some of these historic shopfronts just to grab a couple of square feet to put your desk in," he said.

“It’s not hard to work it out, people can do it very easily, anyone here can do it.

“And for him to say he didn’t know is just appalling. It’s not an excuse, it’s just laziness or just saying he’ll do it retrospectively.”

Another member critical of the applicant was Cllr Paul Moore who said: “A retrospective application means they’ve done something without permission and now they’re applying for it because they’ve been caught out.

“I think the original was far better. I don’t think it’s an attractive proposal. If they had been engaging with the council we could’ve had a better compromise.”

Despite their disapproval, councillors voted to keep the redesign on Wednesday.