Plans to demolish a petrol station to make way for flats have been approved.

Councillors backed a scheme to close the Shell garage on the corner of Cuxton Road and London Road in Strood.

The proposals for a five-storey block of 48 flats also include measures to regenerate seven of the neighbouring railway arches into commercial space.

Further space for businesses will also feature on the block's ground level.

At a meeting of Medway Council's planning committee, councillors welcomed more commercial space in the town centre.

The committee's acting vice-chairman, Cllr Chris Buckwell (Con), said: "I think the units on the ground floor of London Road will help bring that end section of what is really Strood High Street potentially to life again, and that will be for the good."

Cllr Adrian Gulvin (Con) said: "I very much support the idea of getting people living back in our town centres again, and the more footfall we get into our town centres, the more we are hopefully going to keep our shops going."

The site currently also includes a car sales forecourt, a tyre shop, and a car wash.

Some councillors had concerns about the development only having 19 parking spaces, saying this could negatively impact surrounding roads.

The authority's head of planning, Dave Harris, said as the development was close to the town's rail and bus links, the parking was considered adequate.

He added management scheme will be drawn up to prevent people from parking in neighbouring roads.