29 affordable homes at Land At 7 To 39 Rose Avenue, Gravesend

What was proposed

The application proposed demolishing existing residential buildings and building 29 affordable homes in four blocks, with parking, landscaping and other facilities.

“SUMMARY REPORT Application Ref: 20250874 Site Address: Land At 7 To 39 Rose Avenue Gravesend Kent Application Description: Demolition of the existing residential buildings on the site and the erection of 29no. new affordable homes, with associated vehicular parking and landscaping.”

“There would be two, two storey blocks and two three storey blocks. The two storey blocks would be positioned to the front of the site and would follow the established building line, whilst the three storey blocks would be positioned to the rear of the site. The extracts below show the proposed site layout, and the appearance of the site from Rose Avenue. Blocks D and C are the proposed two storey blocks.”

Officer report

The site and surroundings

The site contained 17 homes around a communal space, with residential properties nearby and a community services building along its northern boundary.

“The application site is located on the northern side of Rose Avenue. It measures approximately 4015m 2 in area and currently contains 17 residential properties across 6 buildings. The buildings are organised in a C shape around a communal amenity space. The amenity space is covered in hardstanding and contains three small grassed areas and three trees. It is enclosed by low level metal railings to the front of the site.”

“There are residential properties to the east, south and west of the application site, that are predominantly two-storey terraced properties, with the exception of a semi-detached pair and the single-storey building on the southern side of Rose Avenue. The site shares its northern boundary with the Riverside Centre, a single-storey former primary school building that now provides community services. There is also a flat-roofed nursery building directly northwest.”

Officer report

Who spoke

The agent spoke in favour, explaining that the client wanted to build promptly and intended an all-electric development with air source heat pumps.

Members’ questions

Members discussed replacing the communal space with two amenity areas and how the Designing Out Crime Officer’s recommendations could be considered.

“The Chair invited the Committee to ask questions for clarification, in which Members were informed that:”

“The loss of the current open communal space was mitigated by the two new communal amenity areas. • The Designing Out Crime Officer had been consulted on the application and raised 16 recommendations.”

Minutes

The committee’s decision

The committee agreed to delegate permission to the Head of Planning, in consultation with the Chair, subject to conditions and a unilateral undertaking.

“RESOLVED that the application be delegated to the Head of Planning in consultation with the Chair to grant PERMISSION, subject to the finalisation of planning conditions and the completion of a unilateral undertaking.”

“That the Head of Planning is given delegated authority to make changes to the wording of the Committee’s decision (such as to delete, vary or add conditions, informatives, or reasons for the decision) prior to the decision being actioned, provided that the Head of Planning is…”

Minutes