Informing residents/neighbours about the proposed Telephone House development, Tunbridge Wells

Information-process mainly through fellow residents in the neighbourhood of Telephone House, Tunbridge Wells

Due to the poor information received from TWBC for the 1st application (no public notice on York Road, only a very limited number of neighbours contacted by the council), the following leaflet for the 2nd application was distributed to make everyone who lives in York Road aware of the issues and how it will effect them personally.

URGENT!

DEADLINE FRIDAY 11. AUGUST 2000

PLANNING APPLICATION No. TW/00/01474/FUL/RCC
has been filed seeking to build
43 flats (of which 8 are social housing located next to Trinity House)
on the site of BT-Telephone House
with sole vehicular access/exit to York Road

The facts

BT-Telephonehouse is situated between York Road and Church Road
The size: 0.307 hectare = 0.76 acres
The building is often mentioned as an ugly office building of the 60’s
It is derelict and empty for the second year
It was under-used for years including the car-park (no traffic generation)
The previous planning application for 42 flats (January 2000) was turned down by Tunbridge Borough Council on several grounds:
density, layout, mass, traffic generation, removal of trees, contrary to conservation area protection etc.
The new planning application is for 43 flats - Prices from £250.000
The design has changed. With regard to York Road the new proposed 2 Blocks are in roof line with Trinity House and No. 27
The developers seek for extreme high density: 140 units per hectare (Regional and Government Policy Guidance RPG9 and PPG3 look for 30-50 units per hectare)

Who are the developers?

Crest Homes (South East) jointly with Southgate Ltd. (a BT-company)

What can you do?

Write BEFORE 11th August to :
Tunbridge Wells Borough Council - Planning Office, Town Hall, Tunbridge Wells, TN1 1RS
Give copy of your letter to one of the contact persons.

What are the concerns?

43 flats on 0.307 hectare (0.76 acre) is overpopulating the area
43 flats generate too much traffic and parking related problems
Residents from the proposed development should not get residents’ parking permits for York Road
Access and Exit only via York Road is unacceptable
The trees on the site towards York Road have to be protected
During the demolition and construction period heavy traffic has to go via Church Road only. Otherwise structural damage to houses in York Road almost unavoidable
During the demolition period heavy air pollution is to be expected. The site has to be sprayed consistently to keep pollution under control

Plans can be inspected in the Central Reference Library or the Planning Office in the Town Hall

The proposed BT replacement

The Telephone House Development in Tunbridge Wells - in 1999/2000/2001/2002/2003

The re-development of the Telephone House, York Road / Church Road, Tunbridge Wells

LINK to internet site of the Telephone House Neighbours Association - www.telephonehouse.org.uk

For more information on the Telephone House Debacle