Plans to redevelop Chatham's former Trafalgar Centre into a mixed-use scheme have been submitted. The disused shopping centre in the High Street is earmarked to make way for 200 flats, creative arts studios and co-working offices. These will be delivered across three blocks, one of which is set to reach 11 storeys high and another directly fronting the High Street would be 6 storeys high - which has drawn criticism from local stakeholders. A letter of representation submitted by Kent County Council's heritage conservation department determined "the proposed development has the potential to impact a range of heritage assets including the townscape character of Chatham." It also highlighted that the scheme could "diminish the visual prominence" of the Naval War Memorial on the Great Lines, which may "cause harm to its significance." The letter noted that the area was mostly low-rise containing two and three-storey buildings and emphasised that "it is not clear how, if at all, the present scheme has responded to local character." An objection from a local resident also argued that the views of the memorial are "very important to the character of Chatham." Aylesford-based Terance Butler Holdings (TBH) are behind the proposals, after it purchased the empty shopping centre and the multi-storey car park in Rhode Street for £2.87 million in June 2020.
NCP quit from its lease of the 261-space car park in September last year. As part of the plans, 191 of these spaces will be retained with 98 permits available to residents. The Trafalgar Centre has stood empty since its closure in 2013. The 50,000 sq ft property was initially built in the 1960s as a Fine Fare supermarket before closing in 1987 to later become the InShops complex, containing small independent traders. It was earmarked to be redeveloped into "new, high quality boutique shops" in 2010, although those plans never materialised. You can view and comment on the planning application by clicking here.
Gerard Abrahams
1/3/2022 07:58:34
Chatham high street needs the heart putting back in. This does not do that. More and more flats in the town centre requires more info structure, like NHS facilities, and a decent bus service. Just building more and more flats in Chatham will only attract more cars, which will do nothing for the environment.
Clare
1/3/2022 10:13:27
The last thing that's needed around here it's too much the area needs it's history first and not more high rise to ruin what's left of the high street and local area
A
3/3/2022 09:47:55
Wonderful idea. Will make the area look so much more professional and neat. Comments are closed.
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