New plans for council homes on a disused social club site have been approved despite claims the gardens are so small people would be “crawling up the walls”.
Canterbury City Council (CCC) previously showcased how the massive dormers on the top floor of houses, planned to encourage “passive surveillance”.
The authority applied to build the futuristic-looking mini-estate on land once belonging to the now-demolished Sturry Road Social Club last year.
Equipped with “windows overlooking communal areas,” the 11 rented properties will form an L-shape, to “encourage chance encounters with neighbours,” according to official papers.
“The design evokes a working stable yard,” they add.
“Front patios provide space for residents to work and garden in a more communal setting.
“Moreover, this design motif encourages chance encounters with neighbours and passive surveillance of the site.”
CCC’s planning committee met on July 22 to make the final call on the site, when planning officers were recommending that they approve it.
The officers’ report prior to the meeting argued: “The scheme will bring a vacant site back into use, providing employment opportunities, and homes, enhancing the character and appearance of the site and surroundings.”
Most councillors took no issue with the bid for the site off East Street in Canterbury.
However, Cllr Keith Bothwell (Green) did, saying that the gardens would not be large enough.
“As much as we want to build new council housing and I would fully support that principle, I don’t think this current proposal is providing decent quality housing in terms of the amenity space for those new residents,” he said.
“They will be crawling up the walls because they haven’t got space to do anything.”
Documents from the application stressed that each home will have a private back garden, as well as generous front gardens with patio space for social interactions and doorstep play space”.
Despite being bungalows, each property will also have an additional bedroom and storage area in the roof space.
Cllr Dan Smith (Lib Dem) responded to Cllr Bothwell, saying: “Probably all of us are aware of houses that have smaller gardens than these, most certainly I am in Canterbury.
“I have a friend with a garden much smaller than this. That’s not something that particularly concerns me with this.”
The committee voted to approve the application, with 11 votes in favour, one against and one abstention.
