Plans to demolish a derelict office in Cheriton for new homes spark local concerns
Cheriton: There’s a rundown office near a park that might get the axe for six new townhouses. But not everyone is thrilled about it.
This old building off Stanley Road has been boarded up for ages. It’s sandwiched between a retirement home and some houses. Developers want to tear it down and put up four two-bedroom and two three-bedroom homes.
They say the current office is in a bad spot, has no garden space, and looks right into neighbors’ backyards. The plan is to build three houses where the old office stands and two more further down the road.
If the project gets the green light, each townhouse will come with its own garden and an electric vehicle charging point. Plus, there will be parking for 12 cars.
But some locals are worried. They think the access road is too narrow for all the new traffic. Six objections have already been filed with the council. One resident mentioned they’d love to see the old building go but are concerned about the road situation.
They pointed out that the only access is through a private road used by residents and emergency vehicles. With six new homes, that could mean a lot more cars on the road.
Another neighbor, Irene, echoed these worries. She said the access road isn’t wide enough and that Stanley Road is already busy with parked cars, especially near the park and a primary school.
She’s also anxious about how construction might affect the residents of the retirement home, worrying about potential disruptions to their electricity and water supply.
Despite the concerns, the director of highways at Kent Highways thinks the plans are solid. They believe there’s enough parking and bike storage for everyone.
They also noted that access would be off the existing private road, so they don’t have any objections to the application. It’ll be interesting to see how this all plays out!
