News
downsmail.co.uk Demolished pub ‘in poor state’
THE company that demolished the Five Bells pub in Leeds with- out planning permission says the building had degenerated into a poor condition. In spring, the Downs Mail re- ported that the 18th century pub in Upper Street, which closed in 2012, was destroyed suddenly by Whit- stable-based housebuilder Cast De- velopments. The company claims that during
work to convert it into a single dwelling, which has been approved by the council, a structural investi- gation found that many areas of the building were in poor condition.
to the character of the conservation area,” he said. “While structural re- ports have been submitted regard- ing the condition of the building prior to demolition, I remain un- convinced that itwas beyond feasi- ble repair – the building showed no significant outward signs of struc- tural failure.
The decision was made to re-
move the building without consult- ing Maidstone Council, whose conservation officer Mike Parkin- son rated it as a non-designated heritage asset that should have been retained. “It made a positive contribution
“Unfortunately the opportunity
to inspect the building prior to demolitionwas not given and with the wholesale removal of the struc- ture it is now impossible to judge its true condition.” The council’s planning committee agreed to allow a planning applica-
tion to replace the former pub, but there was further dismay that Cast Developments had not reached a sustainable homes benchmark. Cllr Dennis Collins, a member of the committee, said: “Perhaps it was not listed, but it is an historic frontage thatwe have lost. Iwould rather have had that here than what we are going to get now. “The word used in the officers’
report to describe this loss is ‘un- fortunate’. I would prefer to call it distasteful. The developer has also not reached sustainable homes code level four. It seems they have got awin-win-win in every aspect.”
Village life ‘could be eroded’ How the change came about
Continued from page one Principal planning officer Sarah Anderton explained it had not been “prudent to wait” and would have left the council at least six months behind in producing its draft local plan. The parish council in Harriet-
sham – population 2,000 – has al- ready agreed to a further 400 homes being built in the village and residents there and in Lenham fear the rural nature of
their villages will be eroded. Members recommended the council give officers full support – as well as additional funds if needed – to enable them to inves- tigate ways of reducing the hous- ing need target figure. Council leader Annabelle Black-
more said:“We have to make some tough decisions and the outcome is not going to be pleasant for everyone – but our children need decent, quality homes.”
ALTHOUGH officers have identi- fied a need for an additional 960 eld- erly care home spaces between now and 2031, the need for additional sheltered accommodation and extra care homes is included in the low- ered 18,600 figure. The change has come about be-
cause previous estimates had been based on figures projecting only as far as 2021, whereas the latest Office for National Statistics figures look ahead to 2037 – well in advance of
the town’s 2031 cut-off point. Changes in migrationwas just one
of the factors which could affect local plans, however, and officers said they kept awatching brief on allnew information as it emerged. Fears were expressed that large numbers of affordable homes could affect the dynamics of villages, prompting Cllr Fran Wilson to ask for a debate on affordable housing. She said: “It can be away of helping people get on the housing ladder.”
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Maidstone East September 2014
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