Development of 17 flats at Kings set for 2024 start
WORK to construct 17 flats on tennis courts at Kings Club is set to start next year, after the project spent more than a decade in development.
The first application for flats, which was rejected, was submitted in 2012.
After years of planning wrangling, the principle of development was established, and the latest application was approved in May.
The development will see two of the tennis courts lost, with a block of flats up to three-and-a-half storeys high built.
A club spokesman said the pandemic and the knock-on impact on the construction industry’s resources had delayed the process, along with the updated planning application.
But now that was in place the project was moving forward.
‘Extensive construction design work is under way, following which a tender procurement process will be implemented to deliver the project,’ he said.
‘We hope to start works next year, with a programme of two years.’
There had been concerns about the appearance of earlier proposals, but the planners backed the latest scheme, which will look like a terrace of three houses.
The spokesman said the development would be constructed to an eco-friendly standard, with energy-saving features. It will have electric vehicle charging points and bicycle storage in the basement parking.
Earlier this summer a new application was submitted by the club’s neighbour, Highfield House Care Home, to rebuild the wall on the southern boundary. Permission for this work has been granted.
Currently the wall stands alongside the main vehicle access to the club, although there is long-delayed work to move the access to Les Croutes.
‘The existing wall is in a poor condition and following a structural review it is not possible to repair,’ said Paul Vaudin, who is the agent for the wall project stated in the planning application.
He added that with a protected sweet chesnut tree nearby, causing a drive 'pinch-point' and a high frequency of traffic movements to business and leisure activities in the area, both businesses considered it vitally important to rebuild the wall.
It is planned that the granite wall from the road up to the care home building will be removed to below the level of the driveway, and the stone will be reused elsewhere.
It would then be replaced with a rendered, blockwork wall.
The existing wall is not listed.
Mr Vaudin said there were no plans to excavate near the protected sweet chestnut, but care would be taken by the contractor.
