A council has been urged to reject plans for new town center homes amid fears they could “decimate” the privacy of people with mental health issues.
Community cafe Revival Food and Mood – which acts as a support center for the vulnerable – says proposals for a neighboring site in Whitstable High Street would remove its “safe space”.
But developers defended the plan, which would see two flats above the Crew Clothing store and a derelict warehouse at the back converted into a house.
Revival director Deborah Haylett says the new homes will block light into the garden of the charity’s sun paste cafe, which is used by many mental health groups.
“That overwhelms us tremendously,” he says.
“We have vulnerable people who use this area to share their lives and now they will be heard directly; it’s really unacceptable.
“They’ll feel like they’re at a show.” It is no longer that private space when the space is overshadowed by something big.
“We will lose the light and sun from this area that was so important to growing our residential pantry and growing the friendship of people and the well-being of the space.
“It’s been lovely to see the amount of objections to the app – so many people think so highly and appreciate what we do at Revival.”
With about 60 objections to the application since April, Ms Haylett says the community has taken the position that “it’s not right”.
Founded as part of East Kent Mind over a year ago, Revival helps provide support to as many users as possible through a number of groups.
Bloom, in particular, enjoys being able to grow food for the cafe’s kitchen in the adjacent yard.
In a letter of objection to Canterbury City Council (CCC), East Kent Mind chief executive Dr. David Palmer claims the developer’s plans are based on “greed” rather than providing “suitable and sustainable housing”.
Arguing that the new building would “decimate” Revival’s privacy, he wrote: “The proposed buildings will have a direct view of both our ground floor patio seating and our first floor seating.
“These spaces are used for visitors and service users, many of whom are vulnerable and have mental health issues.
“Our external area is used for our support groups where participants share personal and private information with their support group; to be outright overlooked and eavesdropped decimates their right to privacy.”
Whitstable resident Kay Ashe, 68, who uses Revival, told KentOnline the development would be at the expense of the services offered by the charity.
She said: “It’s gorgeous here – you can see the work that’s gone into creating this really happy, thriving and growing space that’s going to be completely overshadowed by something that’s not needed.
“Losing the sun in this area would be a great shame and it would be very sad to have a blank wall staring back at us.”
However, a design and approach statement by Greenwich-based KHD Architects says the proposal “aims to improve the urban strategy along the Middle Wall” by providing a new one-bedroom house to “replace a derelict warehouse which has fallen into disrepair”.
“The proposal takes characteristics from the local language and implements them in a thoughtful and modern design,” it says.
“It was designed to have as little impact on the appearance of the building as possible, with additions and alterations mainly to the rear.
“While the orientation of the site presents challenges with sunlight and daylight, the proposals seek to provide each dwelling with good views through intelligent design.”
KHD says its proposed black timber cladding will reflect the material of some of the surrounding buildings, particularly neighboring properties.
“Black clay tiles are common in this area, but they also complement the wood paneling to achieve harmony within the traditional use of materials,” added the architects.
CCC planning chiefs are expected to decide on the plans later this year.