Council homes approved despite 'lack of space'

Developers previously said the properties in Canterbury were designed to encourage social interactions

Plans for new council homes on the site of a disused social club in Kent have been approved despite criticism over the size of its gardens.

A report which went before Canterbury City Council said the L-shaped layout of the 11 homes, built on land off Sturry Road, would "encourage chance encounters with neighbours".

Councillor Keith Bothwell opposed the proposal, stating the homes did not provide "decent quality housing in terms of amenity space".

The planning committee voted to approve the application, with 11 votes in favour, one against and one abstention.

Mr Bothwell said: "As much as we want to build new council housing and I would fully support that principle, I don't think this current proposal is providing decent quality housing in terms of the amenity space for those new residents.

"They will be crawling up the walls because they haven't got space to do anything."

Each property will have two bedrooms, a private rear garden and a front garden with patio space, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Councillor Dan Smith said: "Probably all of us are aware of houses that have smaller gardens than these, most certainly I am in Canterbury.

"That's not something that particularly concerns me with this."