Improved community facilities for Westwood development

An enlarged community hall will now be built, as part of a development of over 1,000 homes at Westwood.

The council’s Planning Committee last night (Wednesday 18 January) agreed to make changes to the planning obligations in relation to community facilities that the developers of the site will have to provide. They were originally given planning approval in 2008 for 1,020 houses to be built on land between Haine Road and Nash Road, to the northwest of Westwood Cross.

The developers have asked the council to change how the community facilities will be provided through the Section 106 agreement. The original agreement required the developer to make a financial contribution for each property that was built.

No changes have been made to the level of affordable housing, which remains at 25%, or the proposed medical centre.

Under the amended plans, the developer will now have to provide a range of facilities, which includes:

• An enlarged community building, including a community hall, adult changing facilities, dedicated adult social services hub and youth and community hub, 
• Eight houses specifically designed for wheelchair users, 
• Financial contribution towards youth and community workers, who will work in the youth and community hub on the site, 
• £100,000 towards improvements to Broadstairs library, and
• £30,000 towards adult education classes, which will take place in the community building.

Cllr. Jack Cohen, Chairman of the Planning Committee, said: “These changes mean that, once this development is completed, we will have better community facilities on the site than we would have done otherwise. Everyone is aware that this development was approved some time ago and the council is keen to see work starting on these badly needed affordable and family homes. Now that the changes to the community contributions have been agreed, we hope to see work finally starting on site.” 

The outline planning permission also included a new link road and changes to existing road junctions in the area. Detailed planning approval for phase one of the development, which will see 74 homes being built, was given by the council in April 2011.