Plans to turn a derelict cinema into a retirement complex have been given the green light.

The proposals for the former ABC Cinema site in Tunbridge Wells were discussed by councillors last night at a planning committee.

The plot in Mount Pleasant Road will see one unit demolished and an eight-storey retirement village built, comprising of 166 care apartments.

There will also be a café, outdoor space, hydrotherapy pool, spa, gym, commercial and retail floorspace, car parking spaces and bike storage.

Earlier this week, council officers recommended planning to be approved subject to the completion of a Section 106 agreement.

This has since been settled and the developer – Retirement Villages Group – will contribute £233,884.08 for community projects.

Objections were made from members of the public and local groups.

Michael Lees from the town forum said: "It is a delusion to argue this project will make a social or economic contribution to the town centre."

Also objecting, Paul Avis from the town's civic society added: "Tunbridge Wells deserves better. It is totally out of keeping with the historic context."

Speaking in support of the scheme, chief executive of Retirement Villages Group Will Bax said, the company "saw an opportunity" which is why it bought the land in December.

He said the team have "refined and improved plans" using feedback from council officers and have now created something it is "very proud of" and will set a benchmark for retirement living.

The owner of Pleasant Sandwich Bar also said they welcomed the scheme. A written statement said the building has been abandoned for too long and caused problems for neighbouring businesses.

It added: "It is like running a business with one arm tied around my back. I want it to bring people to Mount Pleasant. It will benefit business like mine. I have waited a long time for this to happen."

Questions were raised by councillors about the height of the building, the number of parking spaces, the welfare of people living in the homes and fire safety.

Almost all of the officials admitted to being lobbied both for and against the scheme.

Kicking off the debate, Cllr Hugh Patterson (Lib Dem) said: "It has been empty for 22 years and in all that time there has been nothing on that site and that has been a shame.

"If we refuse the application we do not know how long it will remain empty for. It seems to me this applicant is much more invested in the site. It will be a value to the town.

"I think overall no plan or design is perfect but I am convinced this is a good scheme."

Cllr Wendy Fitzsimmons (Lib Dem) seconded the approval saying local businesses will benefit and added: "I think there is a lot to be said for town centre living. It brings life to the city."

Conservative Cllr Godfrey Bland agreed saying it would bring economic improvements to the town.

He continued: "I support the application. Not beacuse we have got to fill a hole or it is better than others but because it is actually good in its own right."

Not all sitting did support the scheme, however, with many disagreeing over it taking hold of a prime, town centre location.

Cllr Raymond Moon (lab) said: "It is a difficult decision for councillors but we have to look at it overall. I think there are improvements to be made and I do not think it is in the right place at the right time."

Cllr Alex Britcher-Allen (lab) added: "We want to have something and a lot of work has gone into it but we do not want to fall into a trap where anything is better than nothing.

"It is huge. It will benefit the economy but I am not sure how much. I have come in with an open mind but I can see the pros and cons. I feel very mixed about it."

After a lengthy discussion, the application was approved by 10 councillors with the added informatives of adding a hearing loop into the hall and having a space for advertisements.

Retirement Villages Group submitted its final plans for the £72 million development in August.

The site was previously occupied by the ABC cinema, which was constructed in the 1930s.

It closed in 1999 and shops and cafés were built in its place before being demolished in 2014.