Campaigners are celebrating after an overbearing, ugly and “greedy” development of 17 flats was rejected by the district’s planners.

However, members of The Anchor Action Group (TAAG) are braced for a longer battle ahead.

Dover District Council’s planning committee voted against the officer’s recommendation to allow developer landlords Foster and Payne to build on the former Adamsons Garage MOT test centre in West Street.

Campaigner James Tillitt, TAAG co-chairman, said residents do support developing the land into housing, but he urged the new owners to work with them when devising the next scheme. He suggested they scale down the number of apartments for a start.

“This design was about greed,” he said.

He spoke against the prospect before it was rejected, citing the “fundamentally wrong” design. He said the comings and goings of the occupants of 17 extra homes would put strain on Anchor Lane, an unadopted single lane track. The road networks would also suffer from the existing strain, he feels.

“This design was about greed”- James Tillitt, co-chairman of The Anchor Action Group (TAAG)

The scheme has no provision for parking. This is because Foster and Payne caters for the retirement market which, the firm told The Mercury, uses public transport more.

The officer Chris Hawkins said it is a sustainable development in a town centre location which means parking provision is not essential. The Quarterdeck site, by Rogate, has already set the precedent in Deal for multi-development without provision.

His report said there is sufficient parking at Sainsbury’s, and other car parks nearby including some on road spaces in neighbouring roads. Cllr Bill Gardner told the meeting that parking permits already exceed the number of spaces available.

Mr Tillitt said: “It’s ludicrous to suggest that all over 50s will only travel by trains and buses and no longer own cars.”

Despite the site being in a flood plain, there was no objection from the Environment Agency. Southern Water did little to allay flooding concerns, claiming that the drainage system could cope.

For the full story, read this week's Mercury.