A controversial planning dispute has emerged in Maidstone, Kent, involving a healthcare teaching clinic that was set up without the necessary planning permission. The European School of Osteopathy, a training facility for undergraduates, moved into the former Rock House Hotel on Tonbridge Road without first obtaining approval for the change of use. This move allowed the school to consolidate its satellite provision and create a single campus with its headquarters next door.
Planning officers initially recommended approval for the retrospective planning application, deeming the changes to the building as minor. However, Councillor Paul Harper (Fant and Oakwood Ind) called the application in for discussion at the planning committee meeting, raising concerns about the lack of prior planning permission.
"This conversion was done without any planning permission. I believe we need to examine this as a matter of principle," Cllr Harper stated. He further emphasized that while he supported the school's use of the building, the issue was not specific to the school but rather about setting a precedent.
A previous application to convert Rock House into flats had been rejected by the planning committee, highlighting the sensitivity of the area and the importance of preserving its heritage.
Councillors expressed their admiration for the former ragstone wall that divided the two sites and objected to its partial removal and the replacement of ragstone coping stones with cement capping. Councillor Stephen Thompson (Green) and Councillor Tony Harwood (Lib Dem) proposed changes to restore the look of the frontage, including the addition of a front boundary wall, railings, and a hedgerow.
Despite the support for the school and its positive impact on the borough, the councillors unanimously voted to require the specified changes. Councillor Thompson explained the legal implications of carrying out work without prior planning permission and the potential obligation to restore the original state at the owner's expense.
"The committee was pleased to support the European School of Osteopathy, which provides valuable healthcare and employment in the area. However, the decision requires the owners to replace the ragstone coping and add soft landscaping to restore the heritage value of the site, which is part of the London Road Landscape Conservation Area. While the full heritage value may not be fully restored, I commend Cllr Paul Harper for bringing this application to our attention," Cllr Thompson added.
The planning agent for the osteopathy school, Matthew Blythin, clarified that the school had submitted a planning application before the new use was commenced, emphasizing that the school was aware of the risks associated with the planning process.
"The need to open the new school was urgent, but the school understood the importance of following due process. Rock House, formerly a hotel, had struggled to compete with chain hotels like Premier Inn and Travelodge, and its conversion into a school was a necessary step to preserve its viability. The history of Rock House is an important part of the town's heritage, and we must ensure that such historical features are respected and preserved," Mr. Blythin concluded.
This decision serves as a reminder of the importance of seeking planning permission before carrying out any works to avoid costly corrections and the loss of our local history.
