Plans to knock down a former ambulance training centre and replace it with a four-storey block of flats have been dismissed.

The proposals for the old St John Ambulance base in St Michaels Road, Sittingbourne, were turned down by a planning inspector due to the impact the new apartments would have on the area.

Developer Ikon Construction Services Ltd, which bought Thompson Hall for £160,000 in August 2022, wanted to build nine flats at the site.

Swale council refused the plans in November 2023 so the company appealed the decision in February last year.

During the case, it said: “The loss of the existing building is offset by the public benefits arising from the new building which include the regeneration of the area and the provision of much-needed housing.”

The application also said the "vacant and dilapidated" property would be turned into "a high quality, new building" which would provide affordable housing near the new look Bourne Place leisure quarter.

The area received a £30 million facelift which brought The Light – an eight-screen cinema and leisure complex – restaurants Nando’s and Sentado Lounge, a Travelodge hotel and a 308-space multi-storey car park to the town.

Read more Spirit of Sittingbourne: From scepticism to transforming the town centre

It also pointed to the approved outline planning permission for a five-storey apartment block to be built next door in Brewers Yard.

The disused private car park, which could become 42 flats, is up for sale for £1.2million. Property agents Knight Frank is selling the plot.

However, Inspector Mr B Pattison sided with the council as demolishing the building would impact the character of the area which is designated as a conservation area.

His decision came on January 14 after he visited the site in December.

Ikon had originally put in plans to replace the building with a block of two commercial units and nine flats, but this was rejected in April 2023 by the council.

The revised application saw the commercial element axed but storage for 10 bikes was added.