A BUSINESS car park in Tunbridge Wells town centre could be demolished to make way for 18 apartments, if plans are approved.
Ironically just one car parking space would be provided if the four-storey privately owned facility in Garden Street is replaced by the flats.
The car park currently provides 106 spaces and is still used by businesses in the area.
Tunbridge Wells Borough Council’s planning committee will vote on Wednesday[August 8] on whether to grant full permission to build the apartments next to Calverley House, the former home of stockbroker AJ Bell.
Councillors have been advised to grant -permission on condition that the developer, Tunbridge CR Ltd, pays £6,326 towards the Amelia Scott Cultural Hub as part of a Section 106 -agreement where developers contribute money to the community.
This follows a previous application for planning permission which had been refused.
The new proposed building would be four storeys on one side and three on the other. It would have seven one-bedroom flats, four two-bedroom flats and seven two-bedroom ‘maisonettes’. Three of these properties would be ‘affordable’.
The one car parking space would be for use as part of a car club, a vehicle for shared use between residents. There would also be 21 spaces for bicycles.
Liberal Democrat Cllr David Neve, who has recently resigned from the planning committee, said the lack of parking was a ‘concern’.
‘If they don’t put any spaces in, then where are people going to park?’ he said.
‘They certainly will not be able to get a parking permit, as they are already oversubscribed.
‘The current car park is still used and is used every day, so the people that use it will have to find somewhere else to go.’
Fourteen objections to the plan have been received. These include concerns that the new apartments would overlook flats on Calverley Street and that the ‘poor design’ would be out of character with the area.
The applicant’s statement in support reads: ‘The design seeks to maintain a respectful contemporary approach to integrate with the character of the area.’
PICTURE: SECOND TIME LUCKY: Planners recommend redevelopment
