A RE-DESIGNED 55-bed extra care homes for St Martins in Queen Street, Gillingham has been unanimously agreed.

The northern area planning committee heard that the original design, described as a ‘boring monolith’, had been revised and reduced in size and was now an attractive building which would fit in better with the area.

There had been a campaign in the town to protect St Martin’s House on the site which has since been demolished.

Gillingham town council had objected to the revised plans commenting that although the front of the building is better the rear of the building, which will be higher, is considered to be ‘overbearing and too dominant’.

The committee heard that more than 30 letters had been submitted objecting to the Magna Housing scheme on grounds of overdevelopment, poor design, the effect on neighbouring properties and that St Martins should have been retained.

There was also concern about noise and the appearance of an electricity sub-station close to the development, especially from neighbours at Lime Tree House who were also worried about the changes to their views because of the development.

Ward councillor David Walsh admitted that the town had been divided by the demolition of St Martins, which he said, he had lost friend over.

He said a lot of work had been done on the revision of the plans which were first put forward in 2018 and the resulting design now respected and responded to the area. He said the new home would regenerate the site, offer good housing close to the town centre which, in turn, would release other properties in the area. The application includes spaces for 31 cars.

He said there was significant need in the area for extra care housing and there were no grounds to refuse it: “I just hope that if we can do something good with this site, it might bring the town back together,” he said.

In a statement Magna Housing said the proposal was on the margin of financial viability and that any proposal to reduce it further in size, or make other significant changes, would cast doubt on the scheme.

Planning committee members unanimously approved the application.