Town centre buildings have now been flattened as work gets underway on a divisive new development.

The former Hutchings Motorcycles and Taphouse Beer Cafe buildings in South Street, Deal, have been demolished – with fencing surrounding the now empty land.

They will be replaced with 11 new flats and four retail units, which were granted planning permission earlier this year.

Developer Mark Woolls, who also owns Pier View Amusements in Deal and Dymchurch Amusement Park on Romney Marsh, said he is excited for the next phase.

He said: “The development's going really well. The conversion part of it we’re cracking on with.

“The groundwork’s nearly done on the front part now, and we’re looking forward to building it.

“All the buildings that we’re rebuilding have been demolished now.”

It comes two months after the Taphouse bar closed its doors for the final time, despite initially being offered a space in the new scheme.

Bosses said the arrangement was not viable, announcing in April that they would be shutting the popular venue after nine years of trading.

A post on the bar’s Facebook page said: “It is with great sadness and disappointment that we have to announce that the Taphouse will be closing as a business on Saturday, April 26.

“The redevelopment will not make the business viable, so we have taken this heartbreaking decision.”

The closure sparked an outpouring of sadness from loyal customers, with many fearing the loss of the well-loved independent bar would “leave a huge gap” in the town.

Despite this, Mr Woolls believes the development will “enhance” Deal and hopes people will come to appreciate the scheme when it's finished.

He added: “All they need to do is wait till it’s all back up and running again.

“The development will enhance South Street and Deal.”

Mr Woolls hopes to have the project completed by January 2026.

In March, Dover District Council approved his plan to demolish the two South Street properties – numbers 5 and 7 – and replace them with a block of four ground-floor shops and six flats above.

The neighbouring buildings at 1 and 3 Middle Street are also being converted to provide five more apartments, bringing the total number of homes in the scheme to 11.

The decision proved controversial, with Deal Town Council objecting on the grounds of overdevelopment and lack of parking.

Five letters of objection were submitted, including from a neighbour who said the new two-storey building would block light to his home.

Cllr Helen Williams (Lab) questioned the need for more shops, citing several existing empty units in Deal. But planning chairman Cllr Michael Nee (Lab) said this could not be taken into account.

But the council also received eight letters of support for the application.

John Jones wrote: “I support this project as there is high demand for new housing in Deal and I also welcome new business into the area which provides prosperity, jobs and choice.

“The current property is scruffy and unsightly.”

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The committee voted through the application by seven votes with two abstentions.