A former BT storage depot will be given a new lease of life as plans to build 76 homes are given the green light.
The scheme will see a four-storey apartment block and 15 semi-detached and detached houses built on the brownfield land at Milton Place, in Gravesend.
The site, which includes the former storage depot, the council-operated Milton Place Car Park, a skate park, and an open space, has been earmarked for development for several years.
It has a varied history and once featured a church, a school, a playground and Gravesend Lido, which closed in the 1980s.
However, last year, Gravesham council secured more than £1.6m in government funding through the Brownfield Land Release Fund (BLRF2) to bring forward the project.
It will see 61 one-bedroom, assisted living and affordable apartments for over 55s and 15 houses of a mix of two, three and four bedrooms built.
There will also be improvements made to the open space area, tree planting, new vehicular access in Milton Road and a reduction in car parking spaces from 148 to 84 in Milton Place.
However, the skate park and landscaped mound will be kept.
The scheme is being brought forward by the Gravesham Community Investment Partnership (GCIP), formed by Gravesham council and developer The Hill Group.
As it is a council project, it was discussed at a planning meeting on Wednesday (July 30), where it was approved with six members voting in favour and three against.
Cllr Aaron Elliott (Con), spoke against the proposals and raised concerns over the loss of green space, increased congestion and reduction in car parking.
He also claimed existing homeowners are being held to certain standards due to living in a conservation area, which were not being applied here.
The ward councillor for Riverview Park said the planners were “taking the mickey” out of residents and that the design was “dominating the area”.
He added: “I think given the right design, it could contribute to the local area. It could look lovely, but as a design, I think it looks awful.
“Everything considered, I am struggling to see how I can put my name to this application and approve it.”
Milton Place resident Glenn White also slammed the design of the building, stating the height of the four-storey apartment block was “frankly ridiculous”.
He added: “I want to make it clear that we do not oppose development of the area per se, but what we do oppose is this development.
“We think that this plan should be resubmitted and reconsidered because it has lots of flaws.”
Council officers acknowledged the development’s design is “large” in comparison to what is already in place, but explained it had been through extensive discussions with planners and experts.
Their report added: “The proposed development has been designed in a contemporary style and would not result in an overdevelopment of the site or have a detrimental impact on the character, appearance or the quality of the area.”
Speaking at the meeting, non-board member and leader of the council, Cllr John Burden (Lab), said he also accepted the concerns regarding the scale and design.
However, he argued that it would “be wrong not to” develop the land, which would meet the local authority’s “need” for affordable housing and accommodation for over-55s.
He said: “I fully understand people do not like new development in the area. However, we all support new housing coming to the area.
“It is a very difficult combination of thought that you need to achieve of having new housing for people whilst not near me.
“We need to have new development in the town and in the borough.”
Cllr Lyn Milner (Lab) also spoke in favour of the plans. She said: “I am all in favour of this. It is exciting for the borough, and I think it is a good thing.
“It will encourage people to come into the town and explore what we have in the town and perhaps have a cup of coffee, do their shopping, and meet with their friends.
“I think this is an excellent idea and I am looking forward to it.”
Planning officers will now finalise planning conditions, internal layout plans and a section 106 agreement, to allow the application to be approved.
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We need to have new development in the town and in the borough
Councillors also unanimously approved a small change in plans for the former Builders Yard, in Lower Range Road, Gravesend.
The local authority purchased the land last year from Gravesend Churches Housing Association (GCHA), which had approval to build 14 two-bedroom apartments.
However, the council needed to change the scheme slightly to increase the height of the three-storey building by 1.6m to protect it from flood risk.
It proposed creating a void under the building to allow the flow of water and then adding steps and a ramp to allow access and balconies.
In their report, officers said the changes would not harm the townscape or neighbours’ amenity.
