Plans have been set in motion to seize a former nightclub that had been used unlawfully as a church after it was declared a "blight" on the town's future landscape.

Dartford council has agreed plans to use powers, if required, to purchase property wanted by developers Bellway Homes as part of the Lowfield Street redevelopment.

The closed down DA1 nightclub, also known as Talk of the Town, most recently served as meeting place for churchgoers.

But the Redeemed Christian Church of God and its members were ejected in November after their use of the land was deemed unlawful.

A fresh bid from the owner to change the land's use from a nightclub to a place of worship was rejected and an appeal lodged with the Planning Inspectorate – but a decision letter has not yet been received.

Planning officers have said the most recent use will have a "detrimental" impact, in terms of "noise and disturbance" on the next phases of the major town centre regeneration project, spearheaded by Bellway Homes.

Now the council is working with both the developers and the affected church group to reach a settlement, as Bellway actively seeks to acquire the site.

Last week, Dartford councillors voted unanimously to approve the decision to issue a compulsory purchase order (CPO) as a "last resort".

A CPO allows local authorities to force home or land owners to sell up if their property obstructs a regeneration project.

It was considered there was a "compelling case in the public interest" which justifies the use of these powers.

However, it noted it was a decision it did not take lightly, with Dartford council leader Jeremy Kite (Con) telling council members: "This is quite a rare thing for the council to be doing, we don't make a habit of these CPOs."

Burnham ward Cllr Matthew Davis (Con) voted in favour but said the decision did not sit comfortably with him.

He explained acquiring a site used by a church group was quite a different scenario from a business holding out for a bigger offer.

"I don't think we just need to keep offering them more and more money..."

"A church is not primarily the building it is the people," he said. "They seem to me to be devout and charitable.

"I don't think we just need to keep offering them more and more money, I don't think that's what their motivation is.

"That is their home and I accept there are planning reasons and legal reasons but I don't feel comfortable that we are repossessing a church."

Cllr Kite said terminology was important when navigating the complexities of the decision and that he felt it was not akin to "repossession".

Further clarification as to how the developers managed to acquire parts of the Lowfield site but missed out on DA1 and the adjacent buildings was sought by deputy leader of the Labour group Cllr Kelly Grehan.

The council's head of legal services Marie Kelly-Stone replied that it dated back to the failed Tesco development bid.

Originally, the surrounding land was bought by supermarket giant Tesco which wanted to build a new store.

But after 11 years of pressure to build the superstore, they backed out of the deal and sold the land to a private investor, Meyer Homes, in 2015.

They then passed the land on to Bellway which plans to build nearly 550 new homes on the site with work now under way.

Temple Hill ward Cllr Tom Maddison (Lab) said the remaining building, which is adorned with a blue plaque commemorating its time as Dartford Bridewell prison, was a "blight" on the town centre redevelopment.

As a churchgoer himself, he added that he sympathised with the members and felt they should be accommodated elsewhere, but added ultimately "it has to go really".

The council voted unanimously with the decision to issue a CPO to seize the land.

However, because of the costs involved it is asking for an indemnity to cover its costs to ensure it is not left out of pocket.

A further report will be brought before the council once that is secured and it is ready to issue the order.

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