By Local Democracy Reporter Daniel Esson
Divisive plans to build a plush modern home on the site of a bulldozed bungalow have sparked fears that neighbours will be “overshadowed”.
One resident says the new two-storey house in North Foreland Road, Broadstairs, would result in “serious and demonstrable harm” to the amount of sunlight hitting nearby properties.
Others argue allowing the contemporary home to be built would set a “damaging precedent” in the neighbourhood.
But architects behind the bid say the design is “of its time” and will “enhance the architectural quality of the area and enrich the attractive urban fabric and street scene”.
The plans for the four-bedroom house have been submitted to Thanet District Council (TDC).
They include a basement beneath the rear half of the building, and a single-storey garage and home office on what is currently the front garden.
In papers submitted to TDC on behalf of the applicants, Kube Architecture LLP argues the new home would not be out of keeping with others locally.
“The area contains a number of new contemporary housing developments which have informed the proposals,” it says.
“The proposal comprises a high-quality, attractive new home, which makes best use of the land whilst preserving the sylvan and spacious character of the area.”
But some in the area are not enthused by the cutting-edge design, which includes a flat roof.
Broadstairs & St Peters’ Town Council’s planning committee has objected, saying: “The application would result in the loss of light and privacy to neighbouring properties.”
The developers cite images of several other homes locally in a more modern style, but some neighbours have given these short shrift.
One wrote in to TDC’s planning department: “This is an area of high townscape value, and there are no other visible houses along the east side of North Foreland Road which have flat roofs.
“The examples given of houses with flat roofs are all in the North Foreland Estate to the east of the new house.”
Another wrote in to express concerns over the “unacceptable overshadowing” it would bring.
“Its excessive height, massing and proximity to our windows, in combination with a different layout position, would result in serious and demonstrable harm by way of loss of daylight, sunlight and sky visibility, particularly in winter and late afternoons,” they added.
It is not yet known when a decision on the application will be made, but TDC has set a target deadline of April 24.
The demolition of the existing bungalow on this site has gone on for at least two months, resulting in massive amounts of concrete and chalk dust blowing around, thickly coating cars and windows and garden foliage, not to mention the daily noise of earthmoving equipment, loud crashes, vibration and dumping of materials removed and burning of wood. It has been completely pointless getting cars and windows cleaned until the date when all this pre-building work finishes. There has been almost no rain to dampen down the dust at all. Some consideration should be given to neighbours who have suffer this for such a long time, but no apologies or explanations have been given by the developers. It is hoped that once building starts there will not be the same level of disturbance, especially during the summer when neighbours have a right to enjoy the facilities of their garden in the better weather.
So many people around here can afford to buy a house, demolish it and build a ‘dream’ home in its place! Is Thanet officially a wealthy area now?
People complain about building on ‘green-field’ sites & also about redevelopment of existing sites. Apparently we’ve all got to live in old falling-down houses and nothing can ever change. Nimby’s.