Shorncliffe Barracks Redevelopment: Widen the Bridge But Don't Stop There.

Sandgate Parish Council Planning Chairman Gary Fuller is quoted in an article in this weeks Folkestone Herald on the Shorncliffe Barracks redevelopment.

Sandgate Parish Council considered the planning application for the proposed 1,200 home Shorncliffe Garrison redevelopment last week and voted unanimously to object the the proposals on a series of grounds.

Those grounds included:

• There is insufficient provision of single bedroom dwellings suitable for use as social housing in this large scale development at this stage. The first phase contains plans for only one single bedroom property. This type of housing is a priority at this stage, in order to cater for changes in local housing needs brought about by the removal of the spare room subsidy.
• There is inadequate provision of drainage to ensure that the site and the properties directly below it, towards the sea shore, are protected from the risk of potential flooding caused by surface water run-off or issues with the sewer system as a result of increased load due to the additional properties. We cannot accept that the new properties will result in a reduction in sewerage load.
• The plans as presented do not represent an example of innovative design, of architectural excellence, or of a unique character for Shorncliffe. The resultant housing will be of bland design and will be lacking in character when compared with numerous existing examples of both modern, historical, and military architecture in the Shepway District and the town of Folkestone.
• The development fails to show evidence of a commitment to sustainable generation of renewable energy through the provision of air source heat pumps, biomass, ground source heat pumps, micro-CHP (micro combined heat and power), small scale hydro, solar photovoltaic, solar thermal hot water, and/or wind energy micro-generation solutions.
• Demolition of buildings located upon the wider site should not be considered until a full survey of all potential heritage assets has taken place with due consideration given to the potential for re-using non-designated heritage assets.
• The development does not currently incorporate sufficient innovative public transport provisions aimed at reducing the reliance of residents and visitors upon cars rather than public transport.
• The non-developed areas covered by the management plan have insufficient detail on the potential effects of additional usages, such as tourism to the Redoubt.

On Pg4 of today's #Folkestone #Herald talking about #ShorncliffeDevelopment concerns. @timprater gets his 2nd article this week too (Pg8).

- Gary Fuller (@garymarkfuller) July 10, 2014