A dad transforming a town centre building into flats is locked in a planning battle with a council over an illuminated sign of his late son.

William Brown is converting the rundown Queens House, on the corner of Guildhall Street and Sandgate Road in Folkestone, into 32 homes - a project he believes will revitalise the area and boost footfall.

He has renamed the building Master William’s Place in memory of his seven-year-old son, William Brown Jr, who died after being hit by a van on Sandgate Esplanade in December 2023.

Following the approval of the development in November, Mr Brown submitted fresh proposals to Folkestone and Hythe District Council (FHDC) earlier this year to erect an illuminated sign showcasing the name of the building and a picture of his late son.

But Folkestone Town Council (FTC) has objected to the inclusion of William Jr's photograph on the sign, arguing it “doesn’t strike the civic tone needed”.

Mr Brown, 35, says he now has serious doubts over the application being approved and has described the situation as a “kick in the teeth”.

Despite the concern, he still installed the sign this week as he says scaffolding around the building needs to be removed.

“I’m struggling to understand the reasoning behind the objection,” Mr Brown said.

“I know I'm biased because it’s my son, but I honestly think it represents a really good thing – what happened in the community after Will’s passing.

“When I lost my son, everyone could see it from a mother and father’s perspective of losing a child, and everyone jumped on board and rallied around. That’s what that picture represents.

“One of the reasons I took on this development was to do it in memory of my son.

“If this final touch isn't approved it will be a real kick in the teeth.”

In its objection comment submitted to FHDC, FTC states it backs most of Mr Brown’s plan.

“We support the illuminated sign and the commemoration in the naming of the building but feel the inclusion of the photograph, however lovely an image it undoubtedly is, doesn’t strike the civic tone needed,” it said.

“We feel that for the sake of neighbours’ and occupants’ amenities, the illumination should be on a timer to be turned off between 10pm and 6am.”

The former office block, which sits above Bonmarché and neighbouring shops, had been boarded up for more than a year, with residents previously raising concerns over the look of pink weather-resistant boarding installed at the site.

Mr Brown aims to provide “affordable housing for local people” in his development, which will create 32 one- and two-bedroom apartments available to rent.

And he told KentOnline he has no issue with the sign being turned off between 10pm and 6am.

He estimates the development will be fully completed in eight months’ time.

Mr Brown added: “No one's complained about it shining light through their window or anything. If the public weren’t happy with it, there’d be comments.

“The sign’s already up as I need to get the scaffolding down.

“The town centre’s going to be improved by this as far as I'm concerned. It's going to look a lot better than it did.”

Mr Brown also runs Will Brown Jr’s, a dessert parlour in Sandgate Road that opened last April in memory of his son.

William Brown Jr was laid to rest on January 13 at The Church of St Mary and St Eanswythe in Folkestone.

King Charles granted special permission for the burial at the historic graveyard, which had been closed for burials since 1855.

Hundreds of mourners attended the funeral, and more than 10,000 people tuned in to a live stream shared on KentOnline.

Mr Brown added he is prepared to fight the decision if it is refused by FHDC.

“I’ll go to appeal – 100%,” he said.

“I'm honestly of the opinion that the picture of Will represents the community. That creates a community of togetherness.

“That’s what that picture represents, and I think that should be remembered and reflected within the town.”

Twenty-four hours after William Jr’s death in 2023, van driver Stewart Powell was arrested in Dymchurch on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving, causing death by careless driving, failing to stop at the scene of a collision and perverting the course of justice.

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In July, he was spared jail when he appeared at Folkestone Magistrates’ Court.

An inquest in September heard Mr Powell would have only had a split-second to react before the “unavoidable” collision.

William Jr was trying to retrieve a football when he was struck on Sandgate Esplanade close to his home.

A decision on Mr Brown’s application will be made by planning officers at FHDC.