Kentish Express Ashford & District
Plans to turn abandoned former snooker club into 29 apartments
Eye-catching plans to finally transform one of the town’s most prominent buildings have been revealed – four years after the site was left abandoned.
Developers want to convert and extend the former Club Q snooker club and Fabric Warehouse in Godinton Road into 29 apartments.
The building has been targeted by squatters recently but bosses plan to use part of the ground floor as a shop, with 19 two-bed and 10 one-bed flats above it.
Planning consultancy firm Kember Loudon Williams has put forward the application on behalf of developer R & W Holdings.
In a planning statement, the developers say: “The snooker club on the upper floors, and retail shop on the ground floor, has proved unviable.
“The site has been empty for more than four years and, regrettably, has fallen into decline. The buildings are regularly broken into and vandalised and several squatting incidents have been recorded.
“Conversion and expansion of the building for residential use is encouraged and acceptable in principle given the nature of the site as brownfield and its location within the town centre.”
The building, called Godinton House, was built in the 1970s as two floors of offices above a shop.
Developers, who submitted a planning application to Ashford Borough Council last week, say they will provide 41 parking spaces with the new scheme including 17 in the basement, as well as space for 60 bicycles.
Eight of the proposed apartments would be affordable homes, and developers want to build a four-storey side extension to make room for the new apartments.
They added: “The retail use will remain compatible with the character and function of the town centre and, if used as a convenience store, will offer a great opportunity to both existing and future residents.
“The site is part of the former Godinton Way Industrial Estate, which has been allocated for residential development.
“The proposal will positively contribute towards much-needed new housing and enhance the role and vitality of the town centre.”
In 2015, bosses at Croudace Homes gained permission to build 83 homes to the rear of Godinton House, which is now nearing completion.
To view the plans, visit www. ashford.gov.uk and search for the 17/01511/AS application. The deadline for public comments is Sunday, November 5.
‘The proposal will positively contribute towards much-needed new housing’
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