Revised Residential Scheme

Having been refused permission at Committee despite a positive recommendation for approval from Officers, the team at DHA has successfully argued the case for a residential scheme in Margate, at appeal.

 

The plan was initially rejected by Members because “its size, scale, height and design will result in an obtrusive and incongruous form of development that fails to relate to surrounding development, or make a positive contribution to the street scene or the quality of the environment”.

 

The application – which was on an allocated site with officer support – was for 34 flats and three four-bed houses, making significantly better use of the sustainable site than the indicative 10 units referenced in the allocation policy. It provided a good mix of accommodation with all the flats being two or three-bedroom, consistent with the local backland pattern of residential development. The site, currently a mix of commercial buildings, is set within a residential community.

 

GDM Architects revised the scheme following ongoing dialogue with Officers, reduced its density and height, increased the amenity space, colour palette and addressed the access requirements. Parking was minimised to the front, and visitor parking was incorporated. The number of new terraced houses was also reduced from four to three.

 

DHA successfully put a strong viability case and reduced the level of affordable units; highlighted that it retained its domestic scale within the streetscape, respected the prevailing character of the area, and overcame a policy presumption against the development of flats in the area.