Development for 1,650 Residences Near Birchington Village Receives Approval

Approval has been granted for a housing development comprising over 1,600 residences in Thanet. Ptarmigan Land and Places for People, the developers, sought outline planning permission in 2021 for a project situated on land bordering Birchington village. The Local Democracy Reporting Service reports that the proposal has since attracted over 1,800 objections, which raised issues such as insufficient infrastructure, the conversion of agricultural land, and the potential disruption to the area’s tranquil lifestyle. District councillors had postponed a decision on the proposal in September, anticipating an increase in the number of affordable homes planned for the site. However, no additional affordable housing was offered, leading to the project’s approval on Tuesday. It was communicated to council members that the developers were unable to comply with Thanet District Council’s (TDC) affordable housing guidelines while simultaneously achieving the profit margins deemed acceptable by the council. Ptarmigan’s proposal allocated 15.5% of the residences for affordable sale or rent, whereas TDC policy mandates a 30% allocation for large-scale developments. The proportion of affordable housing could potentially rise to 23% if Kent County Council (KCC) secures funding from a road network fund. This funding would contribute to the construction of the North Thanet Link Road, a significant undertaking designed to establish a six-mile connection between the A28 and Manston Road. Presently, the developers intend to construct a section of the road themselves. However, should KCC obtain the government funding, it would alleviate this obligation, enabling the construction of additional affordable homes without diminishing the developers’ profits. Councillors exhibited division regarding the acceptance of the proposed number of affordable homes, resulting in the plans being narrowly approved by a vote of seven to six. Follow BBC Kent on Facebook, on X, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@bbc.co.uk or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.