Riverside flats plan for long-derelict site
A slab of concrete next to the River Medway that has served no use for three decades could be transformed into flats. Interesting Developments Ltd has submitted a planning application to Maidstone council seeking permission to build a four-storey block of nine apartments at the northern end of Wharf Road in Tovil. The site is next to Tovil footbridge which crosses to Barming and provides a short riverside walk into the town centre. The plot, 15 metres from the water, lies within a Zone 3 flood risk area – the highest category. There is a one in 20 chance of flooding each year for the parts that lie within Zone 3B, and a 1 in 100 chance for the area in Zone 3A.
For that reason, the design incorporates an open undercroft parking area, with all living accommodation being on the upper three floors.
The building’s plant room remains on the lower floor but will be “flood-proofed”.
The applicant says the tenants will have to sign up to an Environment Agency (EA) flood message alert and be
aware of an evacuation plan. The EA has raised no objection to the scheme.
The three floors of accommodation will be identical, each with three two-bedroom homes that include a view to the river and a balcony.
The rear wall of the block backs onto a warehouse building, currently used by the Family Martial Arts Centre and by Tilyard Autos, and there will be only glazed windows to bathrooms facing in that direction. Each flat would have one parking space, with five being outside the building, and four underneath. Two additional visitor parking spaces would
lie adjacent to the river.
The block would be built in a similar style to that of the nearby Boatyard development of 67 flats.
Interesting Developments Ltd has not mentioned in its application that the access road for the site, Wharf Road, is privately-owned by residents, however.
A resident of Trevarno Terrace was surprised to hear of the plan.
He said: “They haven’t consulted us at all and we own the road.”
To view the plan go to tiny url.com/planningKM, reference number 23/505527.