Fiercely criticised plans for a block of flats next to Luton Arches in Chatham have been refused for a third time by Medway Council. Property developer Wexham Homes submitted a planning application to build a block of 9 one-bedroom flats on vacant land currently occupied by advertising hoardings. The four-storey development was to be 'car-free', meaning that no car parking spaces were going to be provided for potential residents and their visitors. However, Medway Council has refused the developer permission to build the flats for a third time, particularly after strong objections began to mount against the proposals. In a report, the Council found that the block of flats would "fail to improve the environment of the area". It also noted that the car-free nature of the development is likely to result in a "severe impact on road safety and operation of the local transport network".
Medway Council's planning department ultimately concluded that the development failed to comply with several local and national planning policies, before issuing a notice of refusal. The latest defeat comes just months after a previous planning application by Wexham Homes was also refused by the Council. Its previous attempt saw proposals for a block of 12 one-bed flats and 4 ground-floor offices, but again with no parking provided. The developer's ambitions stalled when Medway Council refused planning permission, and later once again when an appeal to the government's Planning Inspectorate was defeated. An initial planning application back in 2019 for the construction of 19 one-bed flats was also refused. Previously owned by international advertising agency JCDecaux, the plot of land sitting between the dental clinic and the Luton Arches was sold in an auction for £140,000 in 2017.
Martin
24/2/2021 22:07:30
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