Controversial plans to build 32 homes on the site of a detached house have been resubmitted despite being rejected a year ago.

The latest application for Cobham Lodge, in Gravesend, is a copy of the previous one which was turned down by councillors and the Planning Inspectorate – albeit for different reasons.

The bid looks to convert the existing £1 million, four-bedroom property into 10 flats, change the outbuilding into two houses, construct a new apartment building with 11 flats and build eight semi-detached homes and one detached house on the plot off the A2.

Parking, cycle and bin storage areas and gardens have also been drawn into the plans.

Last year, the same development, which received 419 objections and 185 letters in support, was refused by councillors at the planning committee despite it being recommended for approval by officers.

Permission was denied due to the layout of the proposed buildings and the height of the 11-unit apartment building which was said to be “out of keeping with the character” of the area and result in “overdevelopment”.

The decision was taken to the planning inspectorate who also dismissed the case in October.

However, the submitted design and access statement states that the inspector said the plans would not impact the character of the area, contrary to the councillors’ ruling.

The appeal was instead dismissed due to a lack of a completed section 106 agreement so in the resubmission the applicant has said they are “keen” to make sure this is agreed early and said they will pay a contribution of more than £55,000.

The design and access statement states that the development will “make effective re-use of the site” while helping the council meet its housing supply shortfall.

It adds: “It is further considered that any adverse impacts of granting permission would not significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits.”

Despite the number of homes, the application, validated on Monday, November 13, states that there will not be any affordable housing as it is not viable – this was also agreed by the Planning Inspectorate.

“We are not against him developing the site, we are against flats...”

Campaigners have been lobbying against the proposals for Cobham Lodge, in Valley Drive, for years and on hearing about the resubmission nearby resident Teresa Higgins said she would again object to them.

She said: “We are not against him developing the site, we are against flats. If they are built it will devalue the surrounding properties.

“I will never, ever agree to flats. They are not in keeping with the top of Valley Drive.”

The scheme was initially drawn up in February 2019 and looked to build 64 apartments on the site near Nell’s Cafe.

It was dubbed “the worst planning application in history” by some residents who complained it would have created noise, disturbance, ruined privacy, brought increased traffic and led to overcrowding.

A ward councillor also argued it was “like putting an estate in someone’s back garden”.

Councillors voted unanimously to reject the previous plans in January 2020 which they deemed were "out of character" with the area.

The fresh application was then drawn up for a smaller scheme and was again hit by controversy, including intervention from a TikTok influencer who asked her followers to vote in favour of the project.

Speaking last year, local businessman Ravinder Shetra, who is behind the bid, said: "A few years ago it was a completely different scheme. I understand what the concerns were previously.

"We have now got gardens backing out on gardens and semi-detached homes that are good-sized. What we are proposing is elegant, luxury homes. It is not an eyesore.

"The site is very well screened, you can't see the neighbour's houses through the trees. We have taken any mitigation that is necessary very seriously."

Now a third submission has been launched which you can view here or by searching reference 20231149 in the council’s planning portal.

To see more planning applications and other public notices for your area, click here.

A decision is expected by January 8, 2024.