A Lidl's application to extend its delivery hours has been refused.

The branch in Instone Road, Dartford, applied to amend its delivery hours on Mondays to Saturdays to 8am-11pm, from 8am-10pm.

There was no bid to change its Sunday or Bank Holiday hours, and this would not impact its trading or opening hours.

Council officer Jas Bansil recommended to grant temporary permission to extend the hours for one calendar year, ahead of the Dartford Developmental Control Board meeting in February.

This would allow the local authority the opportunity to review the circumstances under which the permission was granted.

The change would allow the store to be prepared for opening, and would make deliveries safer as they could be made outside opening hours and peak periods.

There are flats with private and community spaces above the store, and other flats to the north, with houses to the east, southeast, south, southwest, and west.

The houses in Gordon Road also back onto the site, with their rear gardens facing the store.

Houses in Spring Vale South are closest to the servicing area where deliveries are received.

The store typically takes in deliveries by one or two HGVs per day, but this may be higher at peak seasonal times.

Delivery operations usually take around one hour.

Board members raised concerns about neighbour disturbance by the bright headlights from delivery vehicles turning within the site during the evening, and loud vehicles unloading and reversing into the bay.

The application was refused, on the grounds that the additional delivery hour would disturb and harm neighbours.