A baker was left “disappointed” after plans to build flats at the back of his bakery were refused – amid concerns that new residents would be put off by the “smell”. Simon Reynolds, the third-generation owner of A.E. Barrow & Sons in Sittingbourne, Kent, wanted to demolish part of his premises to make room for a four-storey block of flats.
The 65-year-old said his business, which has been running since 1931, would continue as usual – and that the scheme would actually “future-proof” it amid the decline of the high street. However, Swale Borough Council reportedly refused to give planning permission in June last year – partly due to the concerns about prospective tenants being “subjected to odours and disturbance” from the bakery, which sells cakes, bread, pastry, and sandwiches. The council’s planning department also argued that the ground floor flats would have had “poor levels of light, outlook, and a sense of enclosure”, which would be harmful to tenants’ living conditions.
A third point made was that the new four-storey flat block would “fail to respect the historic townscape” – and that the part of the building set to be flattened had “heritage significance”.
Mr Reynolds appealed the case back in October, but a planning inspector has now sided with Swale Borough Council and blocked the application.
The local authority has been approached for comment.
However, things aren’t over for Mr Reynolds, who has spent around £5,000 trying to get his plans approved. Instead, he hopes to reapply with a changed scheme in the future.
The baker said: “I do get it [the decision] to a certain degree, but it is still disappointing as it would have future-proofed the business.
“I have ideas for a different plan but it is about which one to choose. I am going away on holiday with the family soon, so I will get them together for an hour or so and chat about the business.
“Once I have got their point of view and a rethink about what we are going to do, we will go from there.”
The site would have covered 3,000 square metres and included two car parking spaces as well as a storage room for bins and bike racks.
There would have been access for vehicles from a residential road while pedestrians would have been able to access the flats from Sittingbourne High Street.
The family-run firm was first opened by William Barrow under the name of the Carlton Cafe. It passed into the hands of his daughter Jean Reynolds, who ran the bakery until 2009.
Simon, the son of Jean, then took over the bakery. The bakery has been popular with customers for several generations and has become a beloved spot in the town centre.
