Assemble Spaces, Albert Hall Albert Street, Whitstable, CT5 1HT

Planning appeal 3374628 at Assemble Spaces, Albert Hall Albert Street, Whitstable, CT5 1HT (Canterbury City Council) was allowed on 5 March 2026 by Inspector Glassar S, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: the loss of a community facility.

Change of Use of existing Hall to 2No. 3-bed dwellings (following partial demolition) and erection of 2No. two-storey, 3-bed dwellings (with accommodation in the roof space) with parking and external amenity space

Authority: Canterbury City Council
Appeal type: minor · Planning Appeal
Procedure: Written Representations
Development: residential · Minor Dwellings
Inspector: Glassar S
Postcode: CT5 1HT

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

the loss of a community facility
the effect of the proposed development on the Thanet Coast and Sandwich Bay SPA and Thames, Medway & Swale SPA

What decided it

The financial contribution towards SPA mitigation measures secured through unilateral undertaking was sufficient to address the adverse effects on the protected sites, and the loss of community facility was not unjustified given the marketing evidence and financial constraints on alternative uses.

The benefits of housing delivery, supported by the Council's inability to demonstrate a five-year housing land supply, were balanced against the loss of a community facility and ecological impacts; the ecological impacts were mitigated through the financial contribution, and the community facility loss was not unjustified, allowing the appeal to proceed.

What the Inspector cited

Development plan policies: Policy QL6Policy SP1Policy SP6Policy LB5

How the Inspector dealt with each one is set out in the app, in order: the development plan, national policy, housing land supply, other considerations and the planning balance, beside the letter.

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The decision letter

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The main issues, what decided it, the planning balance and the policies and judgments listed as cited are read from the published letter by Town Planner Pro and are our summary, not the Inspector’s words; the letter itself is the record. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Research, not advice.