New plans for the redevelopment of Queen Street car park in Chatham town centre have been submitted, after Historic England suggested the previous planning application earlier this year needed a "substantive re-design". Earmarked for the car park is 179 flats as a combination of one, two and three-bed units, which is lower than the 229 originally proposed in February. Spread across four separate blocks along The Brook, the tallest building will now reach 7 storeys rather than the initial 11 storeys, as this was against guidance set out in the Chatham Town Centre Masterplan suggesting buildings in the area should be "within 6 to 10 storeys". As part of the development, 159 car parking spaces will be provided, of which 40 are "intended" for continued public use, while 179 cycle parking spaces are also included. Leisure amenities including an on-site spa and pool have been scrapped in the latest plans, although future residents will have "exclusive" access to a gym and elevated communal gardens. "This full application... takes the aspirations of Medway [Council] to elevate Chatham to the status of City very seriously." BRL Architects, who designed the flats on behalf of developer Creval (Chatham) Ltd, hopes the new homes could generate at least 560 new residents close to the town centre, "boosting the potential customer base and potential income to local businesses".
"Bringing new homes close to the town centre can only boost both the day-time and night-time economies of the town centre," claims the Plymouth-based architecture studio, "as well as raising the overall profile of the area." To build the flats, Medway Council entered a joint venture agreement with developer Creval (Chatham) Ltd and is expected to receive a significant profit share from the sale of the flats. The developer has committed to providing 25% affordable housing, but this will be built as a separate block of flats. It will be located on land owned by MHS Homes on the opposite side of Queen Street, where a row of houses currently sits. A separate planning application for this is expected in the "very near future". To have your say on the latest plans for the Queen Street car park, please submit a comment on Medway Council's Planning Portal website. Photos: BRL Architects
Dawn Christopher
18/11/2020 19:31:00
Housing is needed. The infrastructure to support the residents is needed more. The council ok'd flats by the hospital after hieght was reduced-they were built to the hight rejected by the authority and nothing was done. . Build these monstrocities in Rochester not Chatham.
Christina Kinsey
21/11/2020 13:42:59
What we need is all affordable or social housing, or at least more than 25%. Plus facilities open to everyone, not just some Comments are closed.
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