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Windmill Construction Ltd told to demolish or change flats in Ingram Road, Gillingham, by planning inspector

A planning inspector has told a developer that flats must be demolished or altered after it built more than it had permission for.

Windmill Construction Ltd was served with an enforcement notice by Medway Council after putting up a block of nine flats in Ingram Road, Gillingham.

Windmill Construction Ltd's development in Ingram Road, Gillingham. Block A can be see in the foreground with Block B behind. Picture: Google
Windmill Construction Ltd's development in Ingram Road, Gillingham. Block A can be see in the foreground with Block B behind. Picture: Google

Company director Paul Giles said he was trying to maximise the potential of the site and appealed against the notice in July 2021.

The previous month, the council's planning committee had turned down the company's retrospective plans for four extra flats in one of the two blocks on the site.

Committee members were concerned about how the increased number of homes would impact parking for neighbouring residents and how it would impinge on their privacy due to overlooking.

Residents in neighbouring Gillingham Green set up a group to oppose the plans.

In 2019, permission had been granted for a development of 22 flats over two blocks with seven in block B, but it was later agreed to reduce this to five.

Cllr Adam Price. Picture: Gary Browne
Cllr Adam Price. Picture: Gary Browne

A second block on the site – block A, which is now council-owned – has 17 flats.

A year-and-a-half after the appeal was made, planning inspector Paul Hocking conducted an inquiry hearing at Medway Council's headquarters Gun Wharf and carried out a site visit.

During the hearing on Tuesday, February 28, he also heard from the residents' group.

In his decision, which was returned last week, Mr Hocking dismissed the appeal.

He decided the development would "harmfully increase" the pressure on on-street parking and therefore asked Windmill Construction Ltd to either demolish the block or make amendments so it complied with the original planning permission.

'There were overlooking issues into the back gardens of people living particularly in Gillingham Green...'

Mr Giles was given 12 months to make the changes and said he would be seeking further clarification about the outcome of the appeal hearing.0

He previously said how block B, which he owns, has eight spaces for 9 flats whereas the council-owned block had 12 spaces for 17 flats.

Following the decision, he said: "The block the council bought and owns has less parking than the block we have. It's one rule for the council and one rule for us."

Ward member Cllr Adam Price (Lab), said the development had already impacted parking along Ingram Road and elsewhere.

He explained: "As a direct consequence of the amount of people living in the flats now, there is more pressure on parking not just within the car park within the development, but in the neighbouring roads.

"There were overlooking issues into the back gardens of people living particularly in Gillingham Green.

"That's why the residents are very exercised about it and they all put in their letters about it."

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