42 flats will be build in the centre of a Kent town while a 33-home estate has also been approved
Two separate applications for a total of 75 homes in Kent have been given the green light.
Schemes for 42 flats in the centre of Chatham and a new 33-home estate near Riverside Country Park, Rainham, have both been given the nod by Medway Council officers.
The DHA Planning scheme for two blocks on Clover Street, just behind Chatham High Street, was submitted in April and seeks to convert a patch of grassland into 19 one-bed flats and 23 two-bed flats.
Officers say the development of an unused site to meet housing need would be beneficial and say the designs are in keeping with the local area.
Only two representations were submitted for the application from the public, with one supporting the development but the other saying more parking needed to be provided than the planned six spaces.
The scheme won’t be required to make developer contributions or set aside properties for affordable housing as a viability assessment has determined these would make the plans unaffordable.
Due to the relatively small size of the proposals, and the limited number of objections, the Clover Street flats application were decided by officers on December 15 and approved.
Meanwhile, in Rainham a plan from Thetis Holdings Ltd for 33 homes on grassland off Berengrave Lane has also been given approval.
The 1.52 hectare site, near to Berengrave Chalk Pit nature reserve and Riverside Country Park, would extend off Queencourt Close and consist of six two-beds, 13 three-beds and nine with four-beds.
The application was submitted in March and was given approval by officers on December 10, subject to conditions.
A total of 10 letters of objection were received from locals, opposing the loss of green space, the added pressure to GP services and other infrastructure, and concerns about poor drainage.
However, officers believe the development would have a limited impact on the area while providing new properties, particularly as 12 of the houses would be affordable homes.
A condition of the approval is the developers must contribute a £650,000 package, of which £360,000 will go towards nurseries and schools in the area and £112,000 will go towards open spaces.
Community facilities, such as St Margaret’s Church and the Oast Community Centre, will receive £80,000 and £20,000 will go towards improving the Rainham Precinct Shopping Centre.
Again, because of the limited number of objections and the smaller size of the development, the Berengrave Lane scheme was approved under the delegated powers of officers.
Both schemes now have three years to begin substantial work.
