Plans to demolish shops in New Rents for a hotel in Ashford were refused due to concerns about aesthetics and pollution impacting Stodmarsh.
A 92-room hotel was approved earlier for New Rents. Some shops there have already closed.
The hotel project is now delayed in Ashford due to pollution affecting Stodmarsh Nature Reserve. This reserve, near Canterbury, suffers from wastewater runoff containing nitrates and phosphates that damage the environment.
Councillors met and talked over the plan. They worried shops would vanish, and the hotel might not get built. Councillor Charles Suddards worried about a blight and a huge gap on Main Street.
Councillor Simon Betty agreed, and the council voted “no.” He said it seemed unappealing and demolition would create an eyesore. Betty wondered why they can’t use the buildings and stated they shouldn’t waste resources.
The shops were built in 1978. Game and others used to be there. Now, Home Needs Furniture occupies a unit. PDSA is still open, but the charity shop may move to County Square centre. The hotel would occupy upper floors.
Hotel rooms would exist on floors one, two, and three. The fourth floor contains flats. The hotel provider is still unknown. It would likely rate three to four stars.
Work on the 0.44-acre property, which includes ten flats, has stalled. Wooden barriers went up around the New Rents site, but they came down over pollution concerns.
SPPF Ltd wanted to demolish the shops, following new pollution plans to resolve the issues. These proposals came from councils forming a new company named Stour Environmental Credits Ltd. They plan to trade “nutrient credits.”
Developers buy these credits from SEC. SEC funds projects to reduce pollution. These projects offset new building effects. The hotel will have 92 beds total. Steps include new wetlands, updated water works, and septic tank upgrades.
SEC gives developers certificates confirming pollution mitigation efforts. Developers submit these with applications. It allows projects to move forward.