Developers have u-turned on plans to open shops or a restaurant in a prime Canterbury city centre retail spot - and instead want to build a reception area for new student flats.

Business leaders have blasted the proposals for the former Barretts showroom, stressing that the site at the lower end of the high street is a ‘gateway’ to the city and should therefore be protected for retail use.

A scheme for 143 students flats to the rear of the site has already been given the go-ahead, along with new flats above the vacant motor dealership, which has moved to new premises in Broad Oak Road.

The original plans stated the ground floor would either be transformed into a restaurant/wine bar or a number of shops, and last year proposals were submitted for a swish new eatery.

But that vision was later ditched and the application withdrawn - resulting in developers now favouring the creation of a ‘front of house’ reception area for the student accommodation.

Those behind the project say they are “in no doubt it would provide a vital social space” which would give the complex next to Westgate Towers “a focus and a distinctive character”.

In submitting an fresh application requesting a change of use, planning agents for Paul Roberts Developments state: “The reception building will function very much as a visual and functional focus for the purpose-built student accommodation, linking it with the city centre and providing a place where resident students can meet, interact and socialise.

“The space also gives the opportunity for more formal activities like meetings and informal activities such as entertaining small groups of friends, relatives and fellow students.”

Barretts ended its 117-year history in the city centre when it left the premises in 2019 for new £4.5 million flagship showrooms in Broad Oak Road.

The firm sold the freehold of the high street premises to Paul Roberts in January 2020 and now have no control of the site.

The application to turn the units into a student reception area has angered business leaders in the city, including the chief executive of Westgate Hall, Clare Millett.

“This area is the gateway to Canterbury,” she said.

“The former Barretts showroom is one of the first locations the eye is drawn to when visitors walk through Westgate Towers.

“The change of use of this ground floor space will be detrimental to the visitor experience, and work against the interests of all the surrounding retail and hospitality businesses, rather than complementing them.”

Her views are echoed by the Canterbury Society, former pub landlord Ian Blackmore, and the Alliance of Canterbury Residents Association, who all fear the St Dunstan’s area beyond the Westgate Towers will be cut off as a result.

They believe not having “flowing retail frontage” along the lower end of the high street will cause tourists to turn around, presuming it is the end of the shops Canterbury has to offer.

Canterbury Business Improvement District (BID) chief executive Lisa Carlson said: “The St Peter’s Street area has an active business community and given the current level of interest in Canterbury - despite the pandemic - and the number of new shops that have opened recently around the city, we believe a retail use is viable and needed in the area.

“The original planning approval included retail units at ground floor level. As a BID, we have a history of querying any change of use to residential at ground floor level.”

“The ground floor of 28-30 should be protected as it is designated as a primary shopping frontage’ in the Local Plan.”

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