Demolition of existing bowls pavilion and erection of a 4-storey building to provide a 62-unit retirement living complex.
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What was once a bowling green, club house and associated outbuildings on the edge of a playing field will soon be a four-storey retirement living complex in Gravesend, thanks to DHA’s planning and transport teams.
The site at the northern end of Rectory Field playing fields now has full planning permission for McCarthy Stone to build 62 retirement apartments, with parking and landscaping. The application was not called in to committee and was decided by planning officers under delegated powers – a major achievement for such a scheme.
DHA successfully demonstrated that the retirement living proposed met an identified need for extra care bed spaces in the borough in a highly sustainable urban location. The site benefits from existing bus stops and is within a comfortable walking distance of local shops along Milton Road. As part of the permitted development, a new access to the site with emergency access will be created off an existing local road.
The application recognised the importance of Rectory Field, which is a large-interconnected playing field, home to pitches and facilities for rugby, football, tennis and cricket as well as another bowls club.
As part of the approved scheme, McCarthy Stone agreed to an £80,000 contribution to Sport England, which can be used on capital projects at other bowls clubs in the borough to improve existing facilities.
Gravesend RFC will also benefit from the approved development following the grant of planning permission for the installation of new floodlights on the adjacent training rugby pitch. This together with pitch improvements, which will provide
additional midweek training capacity, as well as retaining informal space for other activities.
People who worked on this project
Jonathan is a Director heading up our Crawley/Gatwick office. He joined DHA in 2005 and has 25 years experience in planning consultancy, having previously worked on major regeneration projects, including the Emirates Stadium, with Hepher Dixon (now Savills) in Milton Keynes and London.
Laura joined DHA in 2004 as part of our original Graduate intake. She holds a Bachelor of Science (Hons) Degree in Geography and Sports Science from Loughborough University, and an MA in Urban and Regional Planning at the University of Westminster. She is also a member of the RTPI.
Sectors we work in
We are particularly proud of our track record of securing planning consent for valuable community facilities on behalf of both public and private sector clients – from village halls to libraries and pre-schools.
DHA are a leading practice in the residential sector, working with individuals on their dream houses through to thousands of new homes in Garden Settlements.
With an ever-increasing need for specialist accommodation for older people, DHA have expertise across the field to assist in the delivery of retirement and care-related schemes.
Services you may be interested in
At DHA, we strive to make the process of obtaining planning permission as clear and honest as possible.
DHA's Transport and Infrastructure Team specialise in creating robust and cost-effective transport planning solutions to optimise development projects of all sizes.
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