YORK ROAD Tunbridge Wells - The Future beyond 2000

The redevelopment of Telephone House, York Road / Church Road, Tunbridge Wells

update June 2003

For many years, York Road provided the entrance to the car park for employees working in the Telephone House, an office owned and run by British Telecom. This office building had been partially used for years, but has been empty since May 1999, when BT relocated to West Malling, Maidstone, Kent.

BT’s property fronts onto Church Road (which runs parallel to York Road), a thoroughfare of Tunbridge Wells and a main road in the town centre, and stretches across to York Road. BT's subsidiary, Southgate Developments Ltd, is responsible for the redevelopment of this brownfield site. They in effect have become the land owners. This is the situation in July 2001.
Interestingly, this property in Tunbridge Wells was NOT sold to Telereal Holdings Ltd - a joint venture between property groups: Land Securities Trillium and the William Pears Group. The sale of BT properties will help to cut BT's debts (www.ft.com - BT to sell property portfolio - 13.06.2001).

In Autumn 2001 Crest Nicholson (Crest Homes South East) - holding the planning permission for the development of 43 flats on Telephone House site [ after the very controversial appeal decision by the Planning Inspectorate ] - buy the land.

But in Spring 2002 the land and the planning consent change hands again: this time to CALA Homes (CALA Group Edinburgh).
CALA Homes (South) insist on implementing the controversial planning permission for the high density development of the Telephone House Estate.

In Spring 2003 CALA Homes continue the Telephone House saga:
demolition of Telephone House - construction of their Telephone House Estate, Church Road / York Road, Tunbridge Wells.

From the first application putting forward an alternative view point has been a rollercoaster ride for York Road residents.

The first application (December 1999) filed on behalf of BT / Crest Homes by Architects Fountain, Flanagan, Briscoe of Tunbridge Wells, for 42 dwellings ended with refusal at Council officers' level on 27 January 2000.

Notification of refusal of the first application

The second application (July 2000) filed on behalf of BT / Crest Homes by Town Planners Barton Willmore of West Malling and Architect Trevor Sutters of London, for 43 dwellings ended with refusal from the elected Councillors of the Western Area Planning Committee on 18 October 2000.
Residents were at a loss at the time in understanding why council officers had recommended the second application, as it was extremely similar to the first scheme, which was refused at delegated officers' level.

Notification of refusal of the second application

In December 2000, BT / Crest Homes went into appeal against TWBC’s refusal of planning consent for the development on Telephone House site.

Council officers, having enthusiastically recommended the scheme,
defend the Councillors' decision of refusal at the Public Inquiry in the Tunbridge Wells Town Hall's Council Chambers.

In the subsequent Public Inquiry (1-4 May 2001) residents heard that Council officers had not only recommended the BT / Crest Homes application - BUT Council officers were responsible for the scheme by virtue of dictating design and density !

The Telephone House - Public Inquiry brought to light the views of
the residents, the Tunbridge Wells MP (and at the same time Shadow Secretary of State), and Councillors of Culverden Ward.

On 23 May 2001, Council officers at executive level presented the Local Plan Review to Councillors at an extraordinary Council Meeting . Regardless of the pending state of the Public Inquiry's outcome a policy was included in the Local Plan Review for the Telephone House site. Again it dictates and advocates for the same type of scheme that has twice been rejected by TWBC !
On the same evening the Local Plan Review was accepted by Councillors as material consideration. - Some of the Councillors voting for the acceptance of the Local Plan Review, were Members of the Western Area Planning Committee and had voted against the development, as proposed, on 18 October 2000.

Local Plan Review - Policy H6(a)
dictates the same scheme for Telephone House as the rejected applications

Inspector Malcolm Lewis, appointed by the Secretary of State, reached his decision by 3 July 2001.

The appeal is allowed and planning permission is granted
The right to challenge must be lodged with the Crown Office within 6 weeks (14th August 2001)

Under exclusion of the public, guided by officers, Councillors/Members of the Operational Services Board took the decision not to challenge the inspector’s Appeal and Cost Decisions (27 July 2001).

Chief Executive Rodney Stone informs the residents of the decision of the Operational Services Board

The Draft Local Plan Review 2001-2011, Tunbridge Wells Borough Council, was leaked to Crest Nicholson shortly after the Public Inquiry and taken into consideration by the inspector. Residents and Councillors were kept in the dark.

Residents were not informed that the Inspector had received further evidence after the Inquiry of 1-4 May 2001.
A guide by the Planning Inspectorate Making your planning appeal
suggests that involved parties have to be informed.
It seems legal procedures were not followed and that the Public Inquiry should have been re-opened.

Residents were encouraged to write their opinion about the Local Plan Review before 21 September 2001. The Telephone House Neighbours Association wrote formally to TWBC.
Policy H6(a), the policy allocated for the Telephone House site, is the biggest faux-pas in the whole saga.

Peter Morse presented the views as well to Cllr Leonard Price.
"It is our belief that Crest Nicholson having won the appeal on very contradictory grounds does not feel like a comfortable winner."

15.03.2002 - It is confirmed that Crest Nicholson is selling the Telephone House site and CALA Homes are in the process of purchasing this land in Tunbridge Wells

CALA Group Ltd.
Adam House, 5 Mid New Cultins, Edinburgh, EH11 4DU
Tel: 0131 535 5200, Fax: 0131 535 5201, E-Mail:info@cala.co.uk

The Courier announces that Crest Nicholson's Managing Director Peter Bowden has told MP Archie Norman it has decided to wash its hands of Telephone House in Church Road Tunbridge Wells and sell up after a commercial review. It is generally seen as a second chance for Telephone House.

Archie Norman, MP - A Second Chance for Telephone House?
"The final plans please no-one: neither local councillors, residents nor the developers".

12.04.2002 - CALA Homes (South) Ltd met residents of York Road, representing The Telephone House Neighbours Association, and Councillors; the meeting is presided by the MP Archie Norman.

Peter Morse wrote to CALA Homes (South) - Arthur Mann, Land Director - North Thames:
"You are still clearly intending to preceed in accordance with the orginal application which was granted on appeal."

January 2003 - The Telephone House saga opens yet another chapter : CALA Homes move in

CALA Homes insist on implementing the controversial planning consent for the high density development on Telephone House site, Tunbridge Wells.
How do CALA Homes defend what is known to their directors as "hot potato and rotten apple" ?

February 2003 - DEMOLITION of Telephone House, Church Road / York Road, Tunbridge Wells

06.05.2003 - CALA Homes (South) Ltd commences with the construction phase of the Telephone House Estate, York Road / Church Road, in the Town Centre of Tunbridge Wells.

The development on York Road threatens to seriously damage the whole fabric of this tiny street.
The new Telephone House Estate will be so overbearing, as it is THREE times government guidelines in density terms.

May 2003 - CALA Homes continue the Telephone House saga

June 2003 - CONSTRUCTION - The Telephone House Estate, Church Road / York Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent

As you can imagine we feel extremely uncomfortable with the decisions made by Planning Chiefs, here in Tunbridge Wells.
Maybe, that one day those who eventually have to sell property on the Telephone House site, Tunbridge Wells, will realise that it will be easier with residents' support.

For us, the Internet is a major tool in making our opinions count and we know that potential buyers may have a look at the information provided.
We will continue to update this site, so that future buyers have a chance to see what Tunbridge Wells is really like before investing.

The Telephone House Development Church Road / York Road in Tunbridge Wells - in 1999-2005

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

WHAT'S GOING ON? — in the neighbourhood of the former Telephone House site