Kentish Express Ashford & District
Former science labs could be torn down for 11 family homes
Science labs could be flattened and replaced with 11 family homes, if plans are given the green light.
The buildings on the former Wye College site have sat abandoned since 2009, but now applicant Tele Property Investments wants to “regenerate” the asbestos-ridden site.
To the south of the laboratories is the main 15th-century school building, which is currently being convertered into 38 homes by the same developer.
Documents lodged by agent Union 4 Planning state: “The development will provide much-needed family housing and regenerate this vacant site.
“It will remove existing bulky institutional buildings with limited architectural merit, which are considered to have a negative impact on the character and appearance of the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
“The focus of the development is delivering larger properties on generous plots, for which there is a significant demand.
“It will greatly improve the appearance of this part of the village.”
An original masterplan for the area's redevelopment identified some of the buildings, known as Russel Labs, as a plot for a 50-bed care facility.
However, this idea was never formally adopted and the threat of a judicial review, lodged by the Wye Parish Council, essentially halted the process.
Tele Property Investments
now says, following marketing exercises, the only viable option for the lab site is residential.
Documents add: “The buildings contain significant amounts of asbestos, which rules out the possibility of retrofitting the buildings for residential use.
“The proposed family homes will be in keeping with the local vernacular in terms of design and materiality and will appear as an attractive characterful small-scale development within the village.”
Under the plans there will be one three bed house, seven four beds and three five beds.
All will have off road parking spaces, and most will have an integrated car barn.
Each will be two-storeys with a pitched roof and “generous” private gardens.
A decision on the proposal is expected to be made by Ashford Borough Council by June.
The development of the Wye College site has been met with controversy.
Plans were originally lodged for the main building in 2017 and eventually approved, with work estimated to be finished late this year.
However a further two planning applications totalling 60 homes are yet to be decided on – with 40 based on land around the college and 20 for the former ADAS offices further along Olantigh Road.
A public inquiry was held into all three proposals following an appeal from the developers at the beginning of 2021, with the planning inspectorate deciding to allow the college building's redevelopment but quashing the other two.
Though the land was agreed as a good development site in principle – and that it wouldn't seriously affect the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty – the report raised concerns over the scheme's impact on the Stodmarsh Nature Reserve near Canterbury.
Both updated plans were appealed in 2022, and are still awaiting a decision.