Canterbury City Council to decide on industrial estate expansion near Whitstable

Approval Granted for Expanded Industrial Estate in Chestfield

A bid to double the size of a new industrial estate has been approved. The proposals for 33 units in Chestfield, near Whitstable, will be built alongside a 160-home scheme already under construction in the village.

Details of the Industrial Estate Project

The Grasmere Gardens project was initially set to hold up to 300 homes when plans were first submitted in 2017. A 160-home estate was subsequently approved and is under construction on land south of The Ridgeway and the John Wilson Business Park. Additionally, 3,500sqm of commercial space was agreed on appeal in 2019.

A new application submitted last year sought four blocks of industrial and storage buildings, providing a total floorspace of 7,711sqm for offices, research and development, industrial processing, and storage and distribution. The site covers about one hectare of flat, grassed land allocated in the council’s Local Plan for employment use.

Community Concerns Raised

Canterbury City Council’s planning committee discussed the scheme on Tuesday evening, January 6. Critics described the scale of the latest scheme as “excessive overbearing” following the application’s approval on appeal in 2019.

Georgina Childs spoke at the meeting, expressing concern about the magnitude and siting of the proposal. She stated, “It is fundamentally inappropriate for its location and harmful to residents who live alongside.”

Michael Jefferies-Pottle echoed similar concerns, stating that the development represented a “fundamental change” from what had been approved and communicated to residents.

Committee Discussions and Decisions

Cllr James Flanagan (Lib Dem), a Chestfield ward member, called for the application to be discussed at the committee. He argued that the scheme did not meet policy requirements regarding visual impact and privacy for residents.

Applicant Josh Wilson told the committee that the development would provide a “key allocated employment site” within the council’s Local Plan. He noted that the existing John Wilson Business Park has high occupancy rates since it opened in 1990.

Development Specifications

The new plans include three blocks containing 32 small units and a fourth, larger standalone block. Buildings would be up to two storeys high, with the three smaller structures standing up to 8.3 metres. The single large block would reach a height of about 10.5 metres.

The scheme was approved with amended conditions after an hour-long debate, with eight votes in favor and two abstentions. Changes included preventing construction access via Barley Drive and adjusting operational hours for the units.

Community Feedback and Planning Officer’s Report

The planning officer’s report stated that granting planning permission for additional employment floorspace would help address the shortfall in supply. The report acknowledged that the buildings would be highly visible from nearby homes but noted this impact was expected due to the site’s allocation for commercial use.

Nine objections were received from nearby residents during the application’s public consultation phase, raising concerns about the scale, use of the development, and impacts on neighbors.

Summary of Key Facts