15 January 2021
Last year, the Borough Council rejected an application to build an overbearing block of 36 flats on the site of the former Citizens Advice Bureau on River Walk in Tonbridge. A Planning Appeal being made by the developer offers the opportunity for objectors to outline detailed objections to the independent planning inspectors, who will consider all the evidence before deciding whether this is the right building to dominate a key location in the town centre.
This is a farcical situation in which the landowner is also the planning authority but the developer, who has brought the application forward, has failed to deliver any affordable housing to a site that is identified as being suitable for only six residential units.
Cllr Mark Hood commented, “The question is: why has the building been empty for four years, during which time it could have been leased? Why, if the Council wants to see the site developed, hasn’t it done so itself so that it can bring forward a building that would find the approval of its own planning committee and to incorporate the affordable housing we desperately need?
"The proposed building is completely out of keeping with this location in the Conservation Area and will contribute nothing to the area, we hope the appeal is unsuccessful."
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