Former sports centre to be turned into 31 flats

A former sports centre is be demolished and turned into 31 flats after plans to transform the site were approved.

Built in the 1930s, the Arethusa Venture Centre in Lower Upnor, Kent, was most recently used for climbing, kayaking, sailing and paddleboarding prior to its closure in 2019.

Last week, Medway Council's planning committee granted an application, first submitted in December 2024, to turn it into two buildings of four and five storeys.

However, critics of the move described it as "overdevelopment" and "completely out of step" with the area.

Ward councillor John Williams said that while he did not think revamping the vacant brownfield site was wrong, he did not think the designs were appropriate.

"It presents a clear case of overdevelopment that is completely out of step with the historic village of Upnor," he said.

"Our main concerns are in relation to the scale of the buildings and the impact it will have on highways and wider infrastructure and services."

He suggested an alternative design with cottages and rows of houses would be more appropriate.

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, five letters of objection were received regarding the application, highlighting the lack of local amenities and the impact of an increased population on the area's character.

However, councillor David Field said he thought the designs were "fairly fitting", while committee chairman Chrissy Stamp said she understood why, for viability reasons, the proposals had to be that height.

"It's better to build on brownfield sites, and these designs would look better than what is there now," she added.

As a condition of approval, the developers will be required to contribute £265,000 towards improvements to Hoo Sports Centre, civic spaces in Strood and Hoo, and schools within two miles of the site.

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