Plans have been submitted to Thanet council for the demolition of a Ramsgate social club and replacement with a new five-storey build of flats and maisonettes.
The proposal is for 12 two-bed flats, two three-bed maisonettes and a function room with parking and access for the site that is currently home for The Elms Club in Elms Avenue.
The members’ social club is currently open.
In documents submitted by Adam Burgess Architect it lays out plans for the apartments to be built at 45 degrees to “minimise overlooking to and from the Job Centre and the school buildings.”
The architect says there will be private terraces, a secure place for children to play and apartments arranged so the roof of one provides a terrace for the apartment above.
Of the community use of the club the submission says: “The site’s current use as a community facility forms an important part of the brief for the new proposal. The existing members only club building makes no architectural contribution to the area. The low rise design of the existing building makes poor use of the site and in this regard is not in keeping with National Planning Policy.
“The building’s entrance provides no visual indication of the activities inside. The hard surfaced car park access around the building provides no significant or meaningful opportunities for landscaping.
“The proposals incorporates a flexible venue space at the front of the site mitigating the loss of the existing building. Its location will help create a better street presence than the existing building, incorporating large windows that act as an advertisement for the community facility. Its orientation (perpendicular to Elms Avenue) allows the creation of a landscaped courtyard that will better connect the public to the facility.
“The open courtyard can be used as an extension to the facility on good weather days, bringing life to the street.”
So far one objection, from a resident worried about overlooking and parking, has been lodged.
A decision is yet to be made on the proposal.
Find details on Thanet council’s planning page, reference F/TH/18/1038
