Pledges to city as plans go on show for housing

House-builder Taylor Wimpey is to reveal details of the first phase of a 500-home scheme at Canterbury’s former Howe Barracks.

The UK- wide developer snapped up the 66-acre site from the Ministry of Defence earlier this year – but with strings attached.

Planning consent was granted in August last year with the proviso that potential developers of the land throw in a series of community benefits.

When building its homes, Taylor Wimpey is expected to provide benefits including:

A new link road connecting Littlebourne Road and Chaucer Road

£1.5 million towards a newbuild secondary school in the city

£730,000 towards expansion of Pilgrims Way Primary School

Taylor Wimpey, one of the UK’S biggest housing developers, says it will deliver the scheme in three phases.

Details of phase one are to be unveiled at a public exhibition next week.

Joanna Webb, senior land and planning manager for Taylor Wimpey South East, said: “The site already benefits from outline approval for 500 new homes. We are making detailed plans for phase one, which will include approximately 165 high-quality homes as well as a public park and offsite highways improvements.”

At the public exhibition members of the project team will answer questions about the proposals.

Each phase of the scheme will be open to public consultation, says Taylor Wimpey, which builds 13,000 homes across England, Scotland and Wales each year.

Finalised details of each must then be signed off by Canterbury City Council.

Redevelopment of the site forms part of the local plan, the city council’s blueprint for housing and transport growth.

Councillors last year unanimously granted planning consent for 240 three-bedroom, 62 four-bedroom and four fivebedroom houses, as well as 47 two-bedroom flats.

Outline plans also incorporate further community gifts, including a public space behind Querns Road commanding far-reaching views across the city and Cathedral, and sports pitches.

When applying, the ministry had said it was keen to “endow” a number of assets to the city – a pledge Taylor Wimpey will also have to honour.

The ministry has passed on three buildings to the public, including a gym and chapel, which have been granted permission for change of use.

Land between the buildings will include a community orchard on the former parade ground, allotments within a walled garden and a green in front of the gym.

Agents for the MOD told the Gazette: “The endowment of assets is intended as a legacy to the people of Canterbury – marking the more than 200 years of the military’s history in the city.

“It is also intended that Howe Park and the orchard in particular are designed with appropriate recognition of that.”

An impression of landscaping proposed for the former Howe Barracks site in Canterbury