Arlington brief approved
Proposals to improve the Arlington site along Margate seafront
have been approved by members of Thanet District Council.
The Arlington Planning brief, which proposed a mixed use scheme
including residential, retail and commercial elements, was given
overwhelming support by local people during a recent public
consultation.
This included a well attended question and answer session with
Arlington House residents, two “drop-in” sessions, where members of
the public could view details of the planning brief and discuss
their concerns with council officers.
Also more than 50 people completed a survey, giving their views
on the planning brief. Of those, 90% of people either strongly
agreed or agreed with it. Of the individual proposals put forward
in the brief, the most overwhelming support was for exterior
improvements to Arlington House, with 94% in favour of this
measure. More than 90% agreed with plans for new shops and cafes
facing the seafront, while over 85% of those who responded agreed
with the idea of creating easier access around the town through
improved pedestrian and cycle links and a new road link along the
railway line between All Saints Avenue and Eaton Road.
Following the consultation, which also included expert
organisations, such as the Environment Agency, Natural England,
English Heritage and the owners of both the Arlington and Dreamland
sites, a number of changes were made to the planning brief to
reflect the opinions given.