Developers ‘taking people for a ride’ claims architect

Developers planning a vast garden suburb of 4,000 homes on the city’s outskirts are “taking the public for a ride”, says a local architect.

The Mountfield Park proposals in south Canterbury constitute the biggest planning application in the city’s history but the first phase of proposed housing is to be built on land previously earmarked as public open space, says architect Nicholas Blake.

If approved, the development would see a sprawling estate stretching towards Bridge, effectively expanding the city by four times the size of the historic centre.

Canterbury City Council is sifting through more than 150 responses from members of the public after consultation closed towards the end of May.

Among those who have commented is Mr Blake, who says the plans contradict what was previously promised by the council.

Within developer Corinthian’s outline proposal for 4,000 homes is a detailed element for the first phase of 142 properties.

Those new homes are to be built on land next to the Barton Road housing estate, a plot previously earmarked as “parkland” by the council.

Mr Blake told the Gazette: “The architects and planners employed by Mountfield have ignored the city council’s policy.

“The applicant has gone against the council’s own policy. There’s nothing in there about why that philosophy has changed.”

City council planners admit that in 2013 an illustrative map of the south Canterbury development did indicate that the land in question could be public space.

The map shows the plot designated as “open land” punctuated with “woodland/landscaping”.

Spokesman Robert Davies said: “It refers to being an illustrative layout only. In planning terms it carries no weight.”

Mr Blake has also taken issue with the linear grid layout of the proposed housing which, he says, would not sit effectively within the undulating elevations of the land.

A planned 19-metre high block within the housing estate will be obtrusive, he adds, and views of the distant cathedral obscured.

“It feels as if we’ve been taken for a ride,” said Mr Blake.

“Bearing in mind this is the biggest planning application that Canterbury has seen, it’s a most damaging and ill-thought out application.

“It must be refused or withdrawn for a complete rethink.”

South Canterbury is the largest site within the city council’s Local Plan, its blueprint for future development in Canterbury, Whitstable and Herne Bay.

Taken together, all sites earmarked within the plan are to deliver 16,000 homes over the next 15 or so years.

Government inspector Mike Moore is set to resume his examination of the plan this summer.

Referring to the Mountfield application council spokesman Mr Davies added: “We would like to thank everyone who provided a comment.

“We will be reviewing and considering all of the consultation responses that have been submitted.

“We hope to provide a further update on the application by Friday, July 1 to outline how the application will move forward from then.”

What do you think? Email kentishgazette@thekmgroup. co.uk or write to Gazette House, 5-8 Boorman Way, Wraik Hill, Whitstable, CT5 3SE.

An artist’s impression, looking south along New Dover Road

Architect Nicholas Blake