A town centre office block is set to be demolished and turned into a block of flats, despite what one councillor called a “criminal” lack of affordable housing in the development.

Hermes House in Tunbridge Wells has housed the offices of Logistics UK since the 1970s - when it was known as the Freight Transport Association.

The company is one of the biggest trade associations in the UK, which includes more than half of the country’s goods vehicles fleet.

However, the company successfully applied for demolition of the whole site, including the distinctive clock tower which was built in 1931, and have permission to turn it into a block of 43 flats.

Chief executive of Logistics UK, David Wells, told Tunbridge Wells Borough Council’s planning committee: “Sadly our home at St John’s Road no longer provides the standard of accommodation we aspire to, nor does it suit modern working practices, and is too big for our current needs.”

He added: “The building is difficult to heat in the winter, and difficult to keep cool in the summer.”

“There’s a constant challenge with water leaks from the flat roof of the round building.”

He argued that due to the increase in flexible or home-working since the pandemic “we’ve seen a steady stream of staff take London-based jobs for more money.”

The office block is situated in a residential area, and neighbours weren’t enthused about the application.

Lawrie Holmes told the committee he’s lived two doors down from the office for eight years.

He pointed out on site plans his study, in a separate building in his garden, “which is about to be surrounded by a building site for the next two-and-a-half years.”

He added that he was concerned about the scale of the development:

“I was absolutely shocked, and am still shocked, by the idea of 45 homes being built in that relatively small space.”

He continued: “One might say it’s ambitious, others might say it’s damn greedy to build so much in that small space.

“I’m not against the idea of this build at all, we need houses built, that’s fine, I’m in agreement with that.

“But this scale is ridiculous by any estimation. Fort-five homes will deliver a huge amount of profit for the owners of the site, Logistics UK.”

He added that affordable homes are needed given the cost of living crisis - yet the proposed development is entirely market-rate housing.

'One might say it’s ambitious, others might say it’s damn greedy to build so much in that small space'

Cllr Mark Ellis (Lib Dem), who represents the ward where Hermes House is, also attended to request the planning committee defer the decision to consult developers again regarding parking provision, or reducing the number of homes on the site.

“Any additional parking in this area would cause significant disturbance,” he said, telling of the already packed on-street parking in the area.

The proposed development includes only 53 parking spaces for the 43 homes: 43 standard spaces, eight visitor spaces, and two for light commercial vehicles.

Cllr Ellis emphasised “I do not object to the wider proposal of Hermes house being developed, it’s a brownfield site and is currently under-utilised as office space.”

Cllr Godfrey Bland (Con) jokingly argued the lack of parking provision could lead to “active travel by irritation.”

“If you have more than one car you will spend 15 minutes every evening trying to find a parking space for it.

“Very soon, you will decide that it’s really not worth it, sell your car, and get a bicycle,” he quipped.

Cllr Peter Lidstone (Lib Dem), who also represents the ward, said to the committee: “If the rationale here is maximising residential provision, then it is somewhat perverse that the developer is not offering a single affordable home.”

The fact that no affordable housing is to be provided was contentious.

Council officers said it was due to the cost of development, and the fact the site was built-up brownfield, making it more expensive to build on.

The council’s local plan requires at least 30% of housing built on brownfield land to be designated as affordable.

However, the council’s lack of a five-year housing supply, and the developers’ section 106 contributions to TWBC, Kent County Council, and NHS West Kent, mean that the lack of affordable housing was considered acceptable.

Cllr Alex Britcher-Allan (Lab), said that these planning policy justifications were “just not good enough.”

“Forty houses, and to not have affordable housing put in it is just criminal really.

“I just feel morally it’s repugnant,” she added.

The application was approved by the planning committee, with 10 votes in favour, one against, and one abstention.

Logistics UK say they will be looking for another office in the Tunbridge Wells area, and will continue their hybrid working scheme.