News | Powerhub
Supermarket plan for Powerhub is refused
A PROPOSAL to breathe new life into the Powerhub building in St Peter’s Street, Maidstone, by estab- lishing a new supermarket on the site has been turned down. West Farleigh-based Baltic Wharf (Maidstone) Ltd submitted an appeal due to non-determination of its appli- cation to convert the former business estate (pictured) into a mix of busi- ness, retail and leisure, including a foodstore at ground level, with offices for professional and financial services above, a restaurant and car parking for almost 400 vehicles. The scheme would have involved
the demolition of the northern projec- tion and two stairwells of the recently listed landmark building, as well as unlisted Raglan House. Despite the appeal submission, Maidstone Council’s planning com- mittee refused the application for being contrary to its policy on town centre improvements. Itwas felt other sites, such as Maidstone East, were initially preferable for a supermarket. It was also felt the development
would have harmed the listed Power- hub and resulted in the loss of a pro-
tected horse chestnut tree on the junc- tion of London Road and Buckland Hill.
John Rees, representing the appli-
cant, disagreed. “No other viable use exists to save the building and officers have provided no evidence to suggest otherwise. A level of harm to the listed building is unavoidable and this offers the lowest level of harm,” he said. “None of the other sequential sites
canmeet the need here, which is sav- ing the listed building. Refusal of this consent will increase the likelihood this building cannot be savedwithout harm, and until then it will remain an eyesore.” The main argument used by objec- tors to refuse the proposal was an in-
crease in traffic, yet thiswas not used as a ground on which to turn it down. The applicant had proposed to create an additional lane for traffic in Buck- land Hill, whichwould mean the loss of the horse chestnut tree and the cre- ation of an additional lane on the town bridge gyratory, which would mean the loss of one of the bridge footpaths. Cllr Tony Harwood, a member of
the planning committee, said: “The gyratory system is already a barrier and this will make it even more of a barrier through the loss of a towpath. Buckland Hill remains a pleasant and sylvan area and if we allow this we will turn it into a place where the motor car dominates.” Cllr Mike Hogg, a committee mem-
ber, said: “When the town centre sub- ways get flooded, where will people go to get over the bridge? KCC [by not objecting] is putting people at risk.” Eleven members of the committee
voted to refuse the scheme, with one abstention. Council officers will now aim to defend this decision at the ap- peal hearings.
downsmail.co.uk
Dereliction fear CONCERNS were raised that the Powerhub could become “Maid- stone’s Battersea Power Station” if a use is not found for it. James Ross, borough councillor for
Bridge ward, said: “I have a fear that this town will be left with its own Battersea Power Station, which is listed and left rotting in a prominent location. “If ever there was a part of Maid-
stone that needs to be taken seri- ously for regeneration it is the west bank of the Medway.” Cllr Jenni Patterson, a member of
the committee, said: “Eventually work is now taking place on Bat- tersea Power Station and we owe it to future generations to hold on to this building and conserve it.”
Rare survivor THE Powerhub was formerly the Till- ing-Stevens Factory, which was built in 1917 for the manufacture of cars. Its designers, Wallis, Gilbert and
Partners, were the foremost factory architects of the inter-war period. DuringWorldWar II itwas used as a munitions factory. It is one of the fewbuildings of its
kind to have survived unaltered. Eng- lish Heritage gave it a Grade II list- ing two years ago.
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