Huge plans to build more than 500 homes towering over Bexleyheath in a 13-storey block on the old Bexley Civic Centre site have been submitted.

The plans also include a town square, restaurants and cafes for the vacant site opposite the cinema.

Developers Bellway bought the site earlier this year from Sports Direct, who acquired it after the council moved down the road.

Bellway Homes has submitted an application to demolish the existing structures and build 518 homes in blocks ranging from five to 13 storeys high.

Affordable housing has been earmarked at 20 per cent of the homes built, but there is no mention of social housing.

There are nine rental units included in the plans, including a large Sports Direct shop which will be in the ground floor.

Bellway also want to build a new town square, bordered by cafes and shops and a gym.

Bellway estimate that the huge development would generate £790,000 in additional council tax, and a £3.1 million bonus to the council for new homes.

According to the plans, there will be 596 jobs created by the development.

The civic centre site has been empty since 2014, and has been owned by Tesco and Sports Direct since then.

A new pedestrianised street along Highland Road has been included in the plans, which would be lined with shops and benches.

Bexley Labour expressed concerns about the levels of affordable housing proposed. 

Cllr Mabel Ogundayo, shadow cabinet member for housing allocations said: "With 1190 families in temporary accommodation and the social housing waiting list ever increasing, it is disappointing that the development does not offer more in the way of social and affordable housing. 

"The site contains significantly more homes than the consented Tesco scheme and is earmarked for 35per cent affordable housing, in line with the Mayor of London’s Affordable Housing and Viability SPC.

"Any development on the site should therefore provide those levels of affordable housing, which our residents desperately require."

Bellway has been approached for comment.