The St Nicholas campsite Image Clague Architects
An application to build 13 properties at the St Nicholas campsite in Court Road has been submitted by Cantium Land and Development Ltd.
The 1.16 HA site is grassland currently used for camping with informal grazing to the north.
The proposal is for 13 new builds, including a mix of 2 bed homes up to 5 bed homes. The proposal includes a new vehicular access point. The existing hedgerow on the road frontage is retained behind which a green space with a public pedestrian route is provided.
Planning documents from Clague Architects say the site boundaries will be supplemented with native trees, shrubs and meadow grasses.
Image Clague Architects
The architect adds: “The proposal is for brickwork to be used throughout that will reflect the traditional buildings in the village and gives a distinctive character to the architecture and masonry.
“The site is located adjacent to the village centre, walkable to the primary school and other local facilities. It is currently occupied by a commercial use in need of considerable investment, hence making it a logical location for much needed high quality new homes.
“This will allow the sensible re-use of this previously used land, providing much needed high quality new family homes, supporting the local economy and enhancing the local setting.”
Image Clague Architects
There are several other residential schemes recently approved or currently being built out in St Nicholas at Wade.
These include a conversion of the barns at Crumps Farm, one being Grade II Listed, into residential dwellings along with two new build houses and one new Dutch barn, resulting in nine properties.
In addition there is a 34 property development accessed off ‘The Length’ and a 39 property plus another 30 property development off Manor Road.
Residents close to the site were contacted about the scheme and one response was received which raised concern about the number of new developments recently built in St Nicholas-at-Wade and that some properties were currently empty.
How it could look Image Clague Architects
An objection lodged with Thanet council says: “Whilst appreciating why the present owner does not wish to continue running the campsite I do not see why the next step is more development on green fields.
“We already have 13 unsold new houses on the Manor Road site. Since the village doubling in size I have had to call out Southern Water on six occasions to unblock the main sewer serving my property in The Street.
“Also within the last few weeks there have been blockages and overflow of sewage in the Manor Road / Sandlewood Drive area. It would therefore seem that the sewers cannot cope with the present load.
“This area of Court Road is a pinch point and 30 odd extra cars would worsen the situation. There is also no pavement for most of this area. It would also encourage more ‘infilling’ along the whole length of Court Road and the further destruction of the rural environment.’
“The loss of the campsite would seriously affect the footfall at the pubs and shop . In conclusion I suggest that the campsite could continue under new management or revert to agricultural use. Or perhaps the council could purchase the land for the development of a communal wood to offset the damage to the local environment caused by all the new housing.”
Image Clague Architects
Planning documents for the campsite development say: “In recent years, use of the campsite has declined and the landowner has advanced in age and no longer wishes to maintain the site as a campsite. The campsite is therefore being closed.”
The campsite occupancy since 2021 has significantly dropped, to a level where the running costs such as ground maintenance and facility block maintenance now make the campsite unsustainable.
The landowner used to manage the maintenance of the campsite himself but advancing age has meant this is no longer possible and he now has to pay for the maintenance of the site. The combination of reduced interest for staying at the campsite resulting in reduced income combined with higher outlay costs for maintaining it has resulted in the decision to shut it down.
Image Clague Architects
Documents show that booking data from the campsite between 1st April and 31st August for years 2023 and 2024 shows a decline in in the number of nights when the campsite had at least one person staying for one night. This has gone from 103 nights occupied in 2023 to just 72 nights occupied in 2024.
A decision on the application has not yet been made. Plans can be seen on the council’s planning portal, reference F/TH/25/0319
