34 apartments at Swanton House and Kent Care House, South Ashford

“Proposal 12. The application is submitted under Section 73 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, for minor material amendments to an existing planning permission ref 20/00711/AS granted 5 March 2026 for demolition of existing building and erection of two buildings comprising 34 apartments with associated access, parking and landscaping. Both blocks are up to four storeys in height.”

“(i) Amendment to site levels, finished floor levels & building heights, (ii) Amendment to improve building footprints and setting out on site, (iii) Amendment to ground floor layouts, and (iv) Amendment to fenestration, setting out and composition.”

“Site and Surroundings 7. The application site is immediately to the west of the new Ashford College building created in the town centre and close to the Church Road, Elwick Road junction as per the area marked in red in Figure 1 below.”

“To the north of Conyers, an access lane gives vehicular access to the rear of that property, the rear car park at the application site and the rear of the College. The lane has no footway but is a well-used pedestrian thoroughfare to the rear entrance of the College as well as the southern end of the Memorial Gardens. The site falls within the Town Centre Conservation Area.”

“The following is relevant relating to the application; -”

“Planning permission 20/00711/AS: Demolition of existing building and erection of two buildings comprising 34 apartments with associated access, parking and landscaping. Planning Permission granted subject to section 106 planning agreement 5 March 2026.”

“The revisions submitted under this section 73 application include relatively minor adjustments to site and finished floor levels, minor increases in building height to accommodate construction build-ups, refinements to building footprints and setting out, and targeted changes to fenestration informed by a subsequent Overheating Assessment and specialist Mechanical Designer’s input. 70.”

“The proposals would result in no further material changes to the original scheme on any further matters including highways, parking, contamination, flooding, surface water drainage, ecology, biodiversity, water consumption, relationship to air quality, and responding to climate change. These matters were all dealt with under the original approved scheme. The previous scheme is subject to a number of planning conditions and these can be carried forward. 72.”

“Site levels, finished floor levels and building heights…”

“In summary, the proposed revisions include adjustments to site and finished floor levels, minor increases in building height to accommodate construction build-ups, refinements to footprints and setting out, and targeted changes to fenestration informed by the overheating assessment and Mechanical Designer’s input. Collectively, these changes are necessary to deliver a compliant and practical scheme without compromising the overarching design approach.”

“Neighbours: 1 comment received supporting the application on grounds Regeneration of this project will add value to area.”

“(A) Subject to the adoption of an Appropriate Assessment under the Habitats Regulations 2017 (as amended) by the Assistant Director - Planning and Development which identifies suitable mitigation proposals such that, in his view, having consulted the Solicitor to the Council and Natural England, the proposal would not have a significant adverse effect on the integrity of the Stodmarsh SAC, SPA and Ramsar Site alone or in combination with other plans or projects…”

“(B) subject to planning conditions and notes, including those dealing with the subject matters identified below, with any ‘pre-commencement’ based planning conditions to have been the subject of the agreement process provisions effective 01/10/2018 with delegated authority to the Head of Development Management & Planning Enforcement to make or approve changes to the planning conditions (for the avoidance of doubt including additions, amendments and deletions) as he sees fit…”