Land between West Street, Bath Street, Royal Pier Road and Queen ...

GBC Parking ServicesFollowing discussions with GBC Planning Policy corroborate their response in respect ofdisplacing existing public car parking from the application sites.GBC Private HousingComments raise awareness to the potential for detrimental impacts to living conditions that maybe caused by excessive heat in residential apartments, particularly along West Street wherethe units are likely to comprise sealed units due to noise/air quality. ‘Excess heat’ is a hazardidentified under housing rating standards.Highways AgencyNo objection.KCC HighwaysFollowing receipt of a safety audit and the designer’s response consider the general principle ofthe physical highway works to be acceptable and satisfied that any issues can be dealt with atthe detailed design stage. They acknowledge the applicants approach to displacing existingpublic car parking, but raise awareness to the need to update the existing real time car parkingsignage to reflect the new arrangements. They also highlight the need for further discussionsregarding the management of private residents’ car parking to ensure the most efficient use,and that the Travel Plan will include a travel pack to new residents to promote options forsustainable travel.In respect to traffic modelling, following discussions with the applicant’s transport consultant,KCC Highways verify that the pattern of vehicular movements predicted seem generallyconsistent with the scale of development proposed, and also that West Street will experience areduction in traffic flows during the evening peak hour as a result of displacing existing publiccar parking. Whilst this will increase flows elsewhere on the one-way system this would not besufficient to cause serious congestion problems.Finally, a request for a financial contribution in the order of £1,000,000 has been soughttowards the proposed Rathmore Road link which is part of the Kent Thameside StrategicTransport Infrastructure Programme.KCC Highways conclude that, subject to further detailed work identified by the safety audit andan appropriate financial contribution, they do not object to the application.English HeritageThe design proposals have now reached a point where support can be given to the schemeinsofar as it relates to their remit – namely the height of buildings adjacent to the High StreetConservation Area and the layout and scale of buildings affecting the setting of the Grade II*Listed St Georges Church. The current plans show a degree of responsiveness to earlierconcerns and provide confidence that the final scheme will sufficiently safeguard the majorheritage assets.The form of development proposed for the EQ is broadly appropriate for this location and thereduction in height of E03 will help resolve the change in scale between the old town and thenew build development. In particular it will enhance the framing of views of the Church spirefrom the east.