Medway Council’s planning committee has approved plans to demolish part of Rochester High Street for new housing.

Developer Parklake Estates Ltd submitted an application to build 28 homes on the site of 320 to 346 High Street.

The site includes the Thai Market, the Pizza Hut takeaway, a former bed shop and the long-empty MicroFormat factory, as well as a car sales lot.

Under the plans, mostly three-storey homes will be built to provide five two-beds, 11 three-beds, 10 four-beds and two five-beds.

Each property will have its own garden, and there will also be new public spaces with landscaping and seating.

All existing buildings, except the Pizza Hut and Thai Market at 340 and 346 High Street respectively, will be demolished.

The proposals also include 36 car parking spaces and 32 cycle spaces for residents.

But none of the homes will be provided as affordable housing after a viability assessment found “abnormal costs associated with [the site’s] redevelopment” – such as demolition, asbestos removal and ground re-levelling costs.

The report concluded that the scheme is unviable even with full market housing.

Planning officers have, however, added a “clawback” clause, meaning if the developer’s profit for the new houses exceeds expectations, the council could receive further contributions, known as Section 106 (S106) funding.

Councillors unanimously approved the plans at a planning committee meeting today (Wednesday, 11 February).

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