A Kent developer has applied for planning permission to build 95 homes in Minster.
Sandwich based Sunningdale House Developments wants to build the homes on agricultural land off Monkton Road. It will be alongside another Sunningdale development of 36 homes which is nearing completion after gaining permission in 2017 on appeal.
As part of the 2021 Call for Sites for the Thanet Local Plan, Sunningdale also submitted proposals for a larger scheme of 300 dwellings on land including the current 4.45 hectare application site.
Sunningdale has also built housing in St Nicholas, Monkton and Broadstairs.
The Minster development would be made up of 2 one bed, 29 two bed, 45 three bed, 16 four bed and 3 five bed homes in a mix of houses and 12 flats. The 95 home proposal includes 28 affordable units.
Access to the site is currently a bridle way off Monkton Road but the developer says there will be new access from the 36 home development site. An existing public right of way that runs the full width of the site will need to be retained or relocated.
Native tree, shrub and wildflower planting and a new landscape scrub buffer are included in the plans.
Two play spaces and 200 parking spaces, plus one electric charging point per dwelling, are also proposed.
The site is within a flood zone and a 300m combined sewer runs through the site. The proposal seeks the diversion of the sewer from where it enters the site and a surface water drainage strategy including; water butts, permeable surfacing and drainage basins.
Planning documents say: “Sunningdale, as a local delivery agent, understand the local dynamics of the housing market and planning decision makers should be in no doubt that this permission if granted will be swiftly delivered to realise the benefits that have been identified.
“The proposal makes a significant contribution to meeting housing need and Minster represents a sustainable location.”
Minster Action Group has alerted residents to the latest application, saying it is ‘another challenge’ for the village.
The group was set up last year in response to a 115 home development proposed for arable land off Foxborough Lane proposed by Gladman. This application was refused by Thanet council last July.
Dozens of objections have also been lodged against a reserved matters application for the first phase of a 214 home development off Tothill Street.
Outline planning permission for the scheme was granted permission in 2021 despite councillors’ concerns over traffic, school places, adequate medical facilities and the number of houses on the site.
The total application area is 34.67 acres, with proposed residential development and associated open space and services on approximately 32.27 acres and a reserve site of 2.40 acres proposed for the future extension to Minster Cemetery.
The land is owned by St. John’s College Cambridge and Spanton Farms Limited with the development proposed by Barratt David Wilson Homes.
