Fresh plans to transform a derelict nightclub into 34 apartments have been approved.

Permission had been granted in 2019 to turn what was Source of Sound, known as SOS, into 23 homes, but the developers went into receivership after construction began.

Now, after almost eight years vacant, 2-12 Avebury Avenue will get a new lease of life after Tonbridge and Malling council’s planning committee approved a revised design submitted by a new applicant to transform the abandoned building site.

DHA Planning put forward the proposals on behalf of Albermarle Avebury Limited and Avebury Avenue Limited to create 34 apartments with parking, along with refurbishments of the existing gym.

Sharing the outcome of the planning meeting on Facebook, leader of the council, Cllr Matt Boughton (Con), explained he was “pleased” amendments had been made to the design to change the white render.

He added that for years that site had been derelict and a “complete eyesore”.

Cllr Boughton said: “We can now deliver 34 more homes on a brownfield site in arguably one of the best served parts of the borough, by road, bus and rail.

“That's 34 homes that aren't on a green field, greenbelt or 'grey belt' site. When the government wants you to build nearly 20,000 homes over the next 15 years, you have to deliver housing quickly on town centre sites like this one.”

He explained the agent had told the committee they expected work to begin on the scheme within the next four weeks.

During the meeting, speakers expressed concerns in respect of the scale, height and massing of the proposed development, as well as the lack of affordable housing and other infrastructure provision.

However, members acknowledged the benefits of the proposed development, which were thought to significantly and demonstrably outweigh any harm.

Tonbridge resident Michael Williams was pleased that something was happening to the site after so long.

The 42-year-old said: “It has been an eyesore for many years and has held back the look of the street and this part of town.

“The importance of the right homes within the town, using brownfield sites and not building on greenbelt, is a must.”

However, Mr Williams questioned the impact on parking, explaining there seems to be “less and less” at a higher cost and said he hoped the new site would be well-managed.

He also said it was a “must” for the government to “support and fund compulsory infrastructure”.

Visit the Public Notice Portal for more details and to view planning applications.

The council had previously been lobbied to buy the site to get things moving, with Cllr Mark Hood (Green) who represents Judd ward on Tonbridge and Malling council, saying the site presented the borough with the opportunity to expand its temporary housing stock.

But at the time, the authority said it didn’t believe Avebury Avenue was a suitable site for the council to pursue.

At the committee meeting, Cllr Hood and Cllr Stacey Pilgrim highlighted the fact that no affordable housing had been provided and that all the developer contributions had been dropped, which presented a “lost financial benefit to our community”.

Speaking at the committee meeting, they said: “Development is supposed to deliver some benefit to local people; this development now fails on almost every count. Very few people living nearby will ever be able to afford to live here.”

They added: “All we can hope for is a speedy construction period and the resolution of the longstanding eyesore which we have had to endure for so long.”

The nightclub, known locally just as SOS, closed almost eight years ago on Christmas Eve, 2017. The site is a two-minute walk from Tonbridge High Street.