Plans to build dozens of affordable flats on a car park near Chatham town centre is facing a wave of criticism from local residents. The proposals, put forward by Medway Council's own house-building firm Medway Development Company (MDC), could see 24 flats for affordable rent built on Upper Mount car park, off Old Road in Chatham. As part of the development, 15 car parking and up to 24 cycle parking spaces will be provided, which, although falls below the Council's required car parking standards, is considered "acceptable" due to its "sustainable" location, claims DHA Planning consultants on behalf of MDC. Some 21 parking spaces will be retained for continued public use. However, the plans are receiving a wave of objections from residents living in the streets surrounding the car park, with one claiming it "feels wrong in every respect." Local resident Bryan Fowler said: "This proposal feels wrong in every respect. Having lived in the area for 20 years, I was often asked where spare car parking spaces are. This is an overflow car park for the Old Road commuter car park, as well as a parking area for visitors to shops, the station and houses. "As a resident, I and my visitors sometimes parked there. It is in a residential area where parking is much needed and will be in the future too, if Medway/Chatham aspires to be a City of Culture." The plans for Upper Mount car park are effectively a provision of affordable housing linked to a separate development by Medway Council's housing company, which sees 164 flats in the pipeline for Mountbatten House in Chatham. Bryan feels that it is "morally wrong" for the Upper Mount car park site to become the off-site component of the required affordable housing. "Affordable housing should be where it is required," he added. "The development will impact many local residents, especially those in Westmount Avenue who live in family size homes, in a quiet residential street. "Their views over Chatham will go, their gardens and rear rooms will be overlooked. The New Road Conservation Area will also be overlooked," Bryan said. Bryan pointed to a nearby block of flats in Old Road that were recently built, which he says were required to have "non-opening, opaque glazed windows" to "stop them overlooking the nearby Conservation Area".
In light of this, Bryan claims that this development will have a "much greater impact", and, while he acknowledges that the proposed flats will benefit from good views over Chatham, he says that this will be "at the expense of older residential properties" in the immediate vicinity. DHA Planning, acting on behalf of MDC, disputes this in a document as part of the plans, claiming the proposed scheme would be of a "high-quality, sensitive design" that would "suitably assimilate" to the surrounding residential area. "The scheme would [also] further provide a significant contribution to the Council’s affordable housing stock," the document states. Bryan's concerns about the redevelopment of Upper Mount car park are echoed by other local residents, with several objections having already been submitted to Medway Council. He was recently joined by resident Kris Middleton to drop-off leaflets to their neighbours who were unaware of the development. Kris will also question the ability of Medway Council to consider residents' objections with "proper, detached objectivity", given the Council's relationship with its own firm Medway Development Company, at an upcoming Council meeting. Asked about how the development could be made better to win support, Bryan suggested that "acquiring the whole site from Old Road backwards" may provide more space for what he thinks is currently a site "too small for residential properties." "I could only support single storey houses/bungalows. [It is] far better to redesign the car park, possibly even incorporating a dedicated, children’s play area to serve the many new families who live in the area," Bryan concluded. You can have your say on the plans by searching MC/21/0564 on the Medway Planning Portal website, or by clicking here.
Julian Quinton
24/3/2021 11:53:31
Have to agree with everything said, also as A local resident of over 30 years and living 100 metres away I was not even aware of the plans to build another eyesore for us locals. Thank you Medway council for not even bothering to inform us, a half hour letter-drop would have covered the local area affected. Comments are closed.
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