Plans to buy a former builders’ yard and build a three-storey block of flats have been branded “the very definition of what should be done”.

The site in Lower Range Road, Gravesend, is owned by Gravesend Churches Housing Association (GCHA) who are in discussions to sell it to Gravesham council.

Council officers were seeking approval from cabinet members to purchase the yard, which has planning permission for 14 two-bed flats, for £525,000.

At a meeting yesterday (September 9) members voted unanimously to go ahead with the sale.

Deputy leader of the council, Cllr Shane Mochrie-Cox said: “I think we are often told we need to build more on brownfield sites and this is a fine example.

“It is a brownfield site being used for social housing for local residents in the urban area meeting the housing need.

“It is probably the very definition of something that should be done.

“Given the state of the yard that exists, I believe it has the support of local people and this authority to develop social housing.

“It is the epitome of a site that should be developed like this.”

Leader of the council, Cllr John Burden, agreed saying it would provide much-needed social housing but asked the director of housing Daniel Killian how long construction would take.

Cllr Burden added: “I think we have got a good record of building out our sites and we cannot make other people build out their sites.

“If this becomes our site, is there a clear plan of when you will start work and get it built as opposed to sitting on it for the next six years?”

Mr Killian said as soon as a contractor is appointed, teams will “hit the ground running and get the site developed as soon as possible”.

Construction works are estimated to cost £3.4million with the total scheme, including the build and fees, totalling £4,660,680.

Each social rent unit would include a living room, a kitchen, a bathroom and a utility space with some having private garden spaces.

There will also be 14 car parking spaces and 14 for cycles.

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GCHA said it is selling the land due to a change in its “budgetary priorities”, as it concentrates on its existing stock, and so can no longer develop the brownfield site.