The site of a former Dartford police station on Instone Road is set to become a Lidl supermarket after the borough council approved planning permission last night (June 2).

The development control board's green light for the German franchise comes one week after Aldi opened its doors in the Orchards Shopping Centre.

As well as the retail store the planning application includes 81 car parking spaces and six residential units.

In 2012 Lidl submitted a similar application, which was refused because of a lack of housing allocation and fears over driving competition away from the town centre.

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The site of the former police station on Instone Road.

Prior to its demolition in 2011 the former police station was bought and a planning application approved to convert it into 57 residential units.

However after no progress the time limit and subsequent planning permission has now expired.

During the meeting the application was approved subject to slight amendments over the pedestrian entrance on Gordon Road.

Lidl's plans received six letters of objection and seven of support, with some nearby residents claiming a new discount store would bring down the value of the town.