Plans to build a housing estate on a historic military site have been approved recently despite concerns it would not provide enough affordable housing. The development of Kitchener Barracks in Dock Road, Chatham, would create up to 295 homes, while retaining historic features including part of the 1930s Khartoum Building, the Barrack Block, and the former Ordnance Store, which would be used as a shop, restaurant, pub and offices. Medway Council’s planning committee welcomed the design of the scheme, but there was resistance over the lack of affordable housing. While guidelines say new developments should provide 25 per cent affordable housing, the scheme only provides 15 per cent, which officers explained was acceptable due to rules introduced in November 2014 - which say affordable housing requirements only apply to any increase in floor space. The barracks are the second oldest military site in Medway and were sold after being identified as surplus to military requirements. Although some members of the public have welcomed the approval of this development, some have raised concerns and suggested different ways the site could have been used. We have selected some of your comments from the KentOnline post: psiman: "This space should be used to expand Medway hospital not add more people to its already well stretched patient lists. But that wouldn't line the councils pockets with more money from the rent they would get from the houses, so that won't happen will it." Ray: "More large scale housing, but never more infrastructure to deal with the increased population. We don't need more housing in Medway till we have the Water, sewage, hospitals, G.Ps, schools, public transport, and roads to deal with those already living in Medway. All this housing will do is exasperate the appalling situation the above services are in." What do you think of this development at Kitchener Barracks? Are you welcoming the proposals or have you got some concerns about the housing conversion? Drop down your thoughts in the comments area and be sure to vote in the poll below. In late January 2015, the UK's largest food retailer, Tesco, announced the closure of 43 stores across England - one of these store closures being the Superstore in Chatham town centre. Since the closure of the store on April 4, the building has been secured with exterior windows covered, as well as the removal of all references to the Tesco store including signs. Rumours have been circling around for the past decade, including Tesco's original plans to refurbish the store to meet customer expectations for the 21st century. However, these plans were ever since 'lost' and no updates have been announced since 2012, when Tesco announced they had secured funding for the store revamp. Although a full revamp was no longer going ahead, Tesco and Medway Council worked on making the Market Hall car park more safer, with more security measures such as fencing put in place. Medway Council's regeneration officers have, though, been in talks over the past few years for the future of the site - the interest was mainly based around a mix-use scheme of housing and retail/commercial space. Recently, Medway Council have denied plans to demolish the site and replace it with housing. Recently, potential investors have been in talks with Tesco and Medway Council about the vacant site, located at the heart of Chatham town centre, and the issue was discussed at a recent Overview and Scrutiny Meeting. Since the closure of the Tesco store, many of you have been in touch with us on Twitter sharing your thoughts and ideas about the future of the site located in the heart of Chatham town centre. We'll share some of your suggestions, right here: Jeff Barker (@jbarkermarine) suggests: Redevelop it as dedicated small space student accommodation with rooftop, as well as free cycle hire. What do you think should be done with the former Tesco site in Chatham town centre? Be sure to let us know in the comments and vote in our poll below. A plot on Chatham High Street is due to auctioned by Clive Emson on 5th May. The vacant site at numbers 389-393 has planning permission for 11 one bed, and 13 two bedroom apartments above a ground floor commercial space. The site has a freehold guide price of £400-425,000. The site was previously occupied by two former stores, adjacent to the ABC Cinema site that is now the Imperial Gate residential building. Since the demolition of the former cinema, the site has stood vacant and is an eyesore, especially being situated at the heart of Chatham town centre. Auctioneer Ben Snelling said: “This site is situated among the regeneration and new housing schemes already under way nearby.
“This is a substantial development site in one of the principal Medway towns and we anticipate a great deal of interest.” The auction will be in the conference centre at Kent County Showground, Maidstone, at 11am. If you would like to find out more, please visit the Clive Emson Auctioneers website. Also, you can read more about the proposal on Medway Council's Planning Applications online platform. Public health officials have raised concerns over JD Wetherspoon’s plans to reopen The Old Post Office Pub in Railway Street, Chatham. Wetherspoon’s application for a licence will be considered by a Medway Council licensing hearing panel next Friday. But a report set to go before the panel has raised concerns over the number of street drinkers in the area – which it calls “one of the most deprived areas in Medway”. The report is written by the council’s director of public health, Dr Alison Barnett, who says there are already 83 premises licensed to sell alcohol in a 1,000m radius of the pub, in Railway Street, which itself is in an Alcohol Control Zone. The reports adds that a high-percentage of crimes in the area are alcohol-related. Wetherspoon’s application, writes Dr Barnett, has failed to identify issues with crime and disorder in the area, failed to address public nuisance or public safety issues, and failed to identify how children can be protected from harm. Do you think that it would be a positive change for the reopening of The Old Post Office Pub? Will the reopening of the pub contribute to alcohol-related crime in the area? Be sure to let us know in the comments section on this post. Meanwhile, we have selected some of your comments posted on the Medway Messenger report published earlier today.
derek: The street drinkers are the alcoholics who just roam around all day, drinking at the taxpayers expense. Why would they go into Wetherspoons to buy a weak pint for around £3 when they can nip into a nearby shop and get 2 or 3 super tenants. Chatham over the year is dying in terms of nightlife, with just a few small shabby small pubs and restaurants left. This fantastic building is off no use being empty, oddly a major company is wanting to invest in Chatham - seems a no brainer and approve this with conditions straight away. |
Archive
August 2023
|