The former St Mary Bredin School in Canterbury will be demolished to make way for student flats after a planning inspector overturned the city council’s rejection of the scheme.

It follows an appeal by architect Guy Holloway, who designed a 146-bed student block for the site of the old school building in Rhodaus Town.

Last May, the city council’s own planning officers had recommended the scheme be approved, saying there was little historic merit to the old school and no other viable alternative for the site.

But members of the planning committee rejected the advice, saying the planned new building was “overbearing and oppressive” - a view shared by the Oaten Hill and South Canterbury Association, which complained it would “desecrate” the site.

They voted to turn it down, which led to the appeal hearing.

But the planning inspector supported the case put by Mr Holloway, who also designed the neighbouring Palamon Court student accommodation.

The inspector said: “In my judgement, it is a well-considered design which would be in keeping, or represent an improvement, with its setting.

“The proposal would bring public benefits in the form of a viable use of the site and bring about a significant contribution to meeting the recognised need for purpose-built student accommodation.”

Despite losing the appeal, the council has avoided significant costs because the applicant did not apply for his fees to be covered by the authority.

Among those who objected to the scheme was Canterbury City South county councillor Ida Linfield.

“I spoke against the building of this white elephant, which will destroy a unique Victorian school,” she said.

"I am very disappointed as I firmly believe the new building will - like the other student blocks - loom over the Dane John Gardens and affect the setting of the ancient city wall.

“They are now outdated and do nothing to help the people in Canterbury who are desperately in need of housing.”

The architect behind the scheme for the St Mary Bredin scheme believes purpose-built student accommodation will help solve the city’s chronic housing situation.

Guy Holloway was speaking after his plans for another block of 146 flats beside the ring-road were approved by a planning inspector.

Responding to claims that there is too much student accommodation being built, Mr Holloway said: “In some neighbourhoods of the city, more than 50% of the homes are student digs but this will help free them up.

“There is a waiting list for Palamon Court and I think the more private rented accommodation we can release, the better that must be for Canterbury.

“What we are seeing is that students are staying on in the accommodation, where they have all the facilities they need, for the duration of their university education.”

Mr Holloway goes as far as to say that it could even help the green belt by reducing the amount of new housing needing to be built.

What do you think? Email kentishgazette@thekmgroup.co.uk.

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