A council has been urged to reject plans for new town centre homes amid fears they could “decimate” the privacy of people with mental health issues.
Community cafe Revival Food and Mood – which acts as a support hub for the vulnerable – says the proposals for a neighbouring site in Whitstable High Street would strip away its “safe space”.
But developers have defended the scheme, which would see two flats built above the Crew Clothing shop, and a derelict warehouse to the rear converted into a house.
Revival director Deborah Haylett claims the new homes will block light into the charity cafe’s sun-trap patio garden, which is used by many mental health groups.
“It will hugely overpower us,” she says.
“We have vulnerable people who use this area to share their lives, and now they will be directly overheard; it’s really unacceptable.
“They will feel like they’re on show. It’s no longer that private space when something big overshadows the space.
“We will lose the light and sun from this area, which has been so important for growing our living larder and the growth of people’s friendships and well-being in the space.
“It’s been lovely to see the number of objections to the application – so many people think so highly and value what we do at Revival.”
With the application attracting about 60 objections since April, Ms Haylett says the community has taken a stand to say “this is not right”.
Established as part of East Kent Mind more than a year ago, Revival helps provide support for as many users as possible through a multitude of groups.
Bloom, in particular, thrives on being able to grow food for the cafe’s kitchen in the adjoining courtyard.
In an objection letter to Canterbury City Council (CCC), East Kent Mind chief executive Dr David Palmer claims the developer’s plans are based on “greed” rather than providing “ suitable and sustainable housing”.
Arguing the new building will “decimate” Revival’s privacy, he wrote: “The buildings proposed will directly overlook both our ground floor patio seating area and our first-floor seating area.
“These areas are used for visitors and service users, many of whom are vulnerable and suffering with their mental health.
“Our outside area is used for our support groups where attendees share personal and private information with their support group; being directly overlooked and overheard will decimate their right to privacy.”
Whitstable resident Kay Ashe, 68, who uses Revival, told KentOnline the development would be to the detriment of the services offered by the charity.
She said: “It’s delightful out here – you can see the work that’s gone into making this a really happy, thriving, growing space, and it’ll be completely overshadowed by something that isn’t needed.
“The loss of the sun in this area would be a great shame, and it would be very sad just to have a blank wall staring at us.”
But Greenwich-based KHD Architects’ design and access statement says the proposal “aims to improve the urban strategy along Middle Wall” by providing a new one-bedroom home” to “replace the derelict warehouse that has fallen into disrepair”.
“The proposal takes characteristics from the local vernacular and implements these into a thoughtful and modern design,” it writes.
“It’s been designed to have as minor an impact on the appearance of the building, with extensions and alterations primarily to the rear.
“Whilst the site’s orientation presents sunlight and daylight challenges, the proposals seek to provide a good outlook to each dwelling through intelligent design.”
KHD says its proposed black timber cladding will reflect the material of some of the surrounding buildings, particularly the neighbouring properties.
“Black clay tiles are commonly found in the area but also complement the timber cladding to achieve harmony within the traditional uses of materials,” the architects added.
CCC planning chiefs are expected to make a decision on the plans later this year.