Gillingham affordable extra care development gets green light from Dorset Council

A new extra care residential development has resolution for approval following a Dorset Council Northern Area Planning Committee meeting on 23 March. 

The committee unanimously resolved to approve the planning application, subject to legal agreement, for 55 units – a mix of 1 and 2-bedroom flats – on land at St Martins, Queen Street in Gillingham. 

The application was made by Magna Housing who are committed to delivering all 55 units as affordable housing.  

The development will offer communal facilities and landscaped outside space for residents to enjoy. The site is close to Gillingham town centre, meaning residents will be within easy walking distance to the town’s shops, services and facilities.  

Plans to develop the site were first submitted in 2018 but were rejected because the proposals were deemed unsympathetic to the character of the area.  

Magna have since worked closely with the council’s planning and conservation officers to significantly revise and improve the scheme design. This includes reducing the number of units from 60 to 55 and a new H-shaped site plan allows for more space between the development and neighbouring properties.  

The cherry tree which can be seen from Queen Street and St Martins Square and is a prominent feature on the site, will be retained as part of a courtyard at the front of the development. 

After the meeting, Cllr David Walsh Dorset Council Portfolio Holder for Planning and Gillingham Ward member said:

“Significant improvements have been made to address concerns about the initial proposals for this development and I believe the scheme will bring important benefits to Gillingham. 

“It will help regenerate what is currently a derelict site and go some way towards meeting the area’s current shortfall in housing for people with extra care needs.” 

Cllr Graham Carr-Jones, Dorset Council Porfolio Holder for Housing and Community Safety said:

“I’m really pleased to hear this development has the go ahead. We have an ageing population here in Dorset with a real need for specialist housing options.  

“Developments like this have a positive social impact by helping people to continue to live independently as they age, reducing demand on local health services and also freeing up under occupied properties in the local area.” 

Paul Read, Assistant Director of Development at Magna said:

“Magna’s aim is to have the right homes of the right quality in the right place, so we’re delighted with this result having worked closely with Dorset Council and the planning and urban design team.  

“We spent a long time listening to local people and the town council to make sure we leave a legacy and deliver a much-needed 100 percent affordable housing scheme and to create a vibrant community of older people living independently and having access to social spaces inside and out.” 

View the agenda documents and a recording of the Northern Area Planning Committee meeting on 23 March 2021.

See the full development plans for St Martins Queen Street online. 

Building Better Lives

At Dorset Council we’re thinking differently about how to use some of the land we own. Find out how we’re developing new accommodation and services to help our communities through our Building Better Lives programme.