Plans have been approved for a residential development on land between Arthur Baker Playing Field and Ashford Road in Charing, near Ashford.
The proposal is for 59 homes made up of two, three and four bedroom properties and one five bedroom property and comprises a mixture of flats, terraced, semi-detached and detached dwellings. Once built they could be offered for sale or rent.
A Reserved Matters planning application was submitted for the development in January 2021 and now amended plans were approved by Ashford Borough Council’s Planning committee on Wednesday 15 June.
The rural site adjoins a newly-built age-restricted housing scheme together with new access linking to the A20 Ashford Road. This age-restricted housing formed an earlier development phase and the current application relates to the reserved matters for market housing approved in outline under the same consent.
The scheme, covering 1.86 hectares, has been brought forward by the development arm of A Better Choice for Property Ltd, an independent private limited residential investment/development company owned by and funded through Ashford Borough Council.
A Better Choice for Property Ltd is in the process of conducting a renewable (low or zero-carbon) energy assessment to examine the energy needs of each dwelling and make recommendations on energy-efficiency measures and compatibility of different renewable technologies.
There will be a 7.5kw EV charging point for each unit, plus two rapid charging points located in the visitors’ parking spaces. This will promote more sustainable methods of transport.
Consent was granted by 11 votes to one, subject to a number of conditions including the implementation of mitigation measures related to the scheme’s impact on water quality at Stodmarsh Lakes near Canterbury. The committee was reminded that work commissioned by the Council has started on a package of strategic mitigation measures that should enable relevant developments within the Borough’s River Stour catchment to come forward on a ‘nutrient neutral’ basis.
About A Better Choice for Property Ltd
ABC for Property is an independent private limited residential investment/development company wholly owned by and funded through Ashford Borough Council.
Its aim is to build a private market rental portfolio of up to 500 properties which will not only provide A Better Choice for Property for its working tenants but also a significant alternative revenue stream to the Council.
While the focus is on Ashford, the company is not geographically constrained and might consider opportunities outside the Borough. Of particular rental interest are new build one and two bed flats, and two and three bed houses but the Company is open to buying for private market sale.
For more information visit www.abetterchoiceforproperty.com