£1.6M plans to convert building in Cliftonville into 10 council homes

Multi-million pound plans to convert a building into 10 new council homes are set to be approved this week.

Thanet District Council’s (TDC) cabinet is expected to authorise proposals to release funds allowing the scheme in Edgar Road, Cliftonville, to go ahead.

TDC bought the massive property in 2023 for £1.6 million using funding from the Live Margate programme – a £23.1m project aimed at purchasing properties and converting them into homes.

At the time, a report to TDC’s cabinet said the conversion “would result in a minimum of 14 flats, potentially all two-bedrooms” subject to planning permission and that level of development being agreed.

But the latest proposal for 10 properties in the conversion would see six two-bedroom flats and four three-bedroom flats created.

A report to cabinet due to be discussed this week argues “the proposed lower density scheme is a sensitive, low-carbon solution for this large period building”.

It adds: “The cost of complex redevelopment of period properties can be high, however, it is important that this asset is secured and sensitively enhanced as soon as possible.

“The forecast cost of the redevelopment is £2,788,274 inclusive of fees and expenses.”

Before being purchased by the council, the property was a huge HMO with “approximately 20 ensuite rooms”, according to TDC.

There has been a “no one-bedroom” planning policy in place in Cliftonville since 2006, intended to limit the amount of large Victorian properties being purchased cheaply and then converted into multiple small flats.

Since TDC acquired the building in 2023, it has been occupied by the RISE (Rough sleeper Intervention, Support and Empowerment) project.

The organisation is a joint project between TDC, the Forward Trust Drug & Alcohol Service, Porchlight and others aimed at supporting the homeless in getting into accommodation.

The report to TDC’s cabinet this week says cabinet members have agreed for the RISE facility to move to a council-owned building in Grosvenor Place, Margate, subject to planning consent.

The cabinet is set to approve the redevelopment at its meeting today.