A £120m scheme to regenerate the Gravesend Heritage Quarter will go ahead after the High Court rejected a challenge by civic society Urban Gravesham.

At the Royal Courts of Justice in The Strand, London, on Monday (March 2) Mr Justice Ouseley ruled Gravesham Borough Council granted planning consent for the scheme correctly.

The plans will see the Eastern Quarter, Western Quarter and St Andrew’s Gardens redeveloped to provide 330 homes, a 50-bedroom hotel and dozens of new shops.

Last June, an application made by Sue Couves, a member of Urban Gravesham, challenged the permission decided by the council’s regulatory board - or planning committee - in April 2013 and the issuing of planning permission a year later.

The judge rejected all the claims and ruled the council, its members and officers had acted properly, and the regulatory board had not been misled in granting permission. 

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The final notice of consent was issued after negotiations secured an agreement for the developer, Edinburgh House, to provide contributions to things like infrastructure and affordable housing during the stages of the development.

Specifically the planning officer had given correct advice to approve the scheme and later acted within his powers to proceed with the negotiations and secure agreement. 

He had reported this to the board and any of the 44 elected members of the council could have demanded the decision be called back to committee if any of them had any reservations about his decision. None did.

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Council leader Coun John Burden

Council leader Coun John Burden said: "This judgement is a total vindication of the council’s decision and the professional advice from its officers. 

"The judge effectively produced a forensic shredding of the case against the authority.

"All sides ought to accept this ruling as final and then, at long last, we can proceed to build this desperately needed regeneration project."

Sue Couves, secretary to Urban Gravesham said: "Urban Gravesham acknowledges the court decision but we are considering our options, including appeal to the Court of Appeal with our legal team."

Elsewhere local residents and businesses are not thrilled with the news the regeneration is set to go ahead.

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Rich Cottee, of Parrock Street, said: "I love the Heritage Quarter, I love the town centre, but I don't think footfall will improve. 

"I suspect rents will go up and ultimately it'll be a blot on the landscape with the town centre being full of people late at night.

"I have been here seven years, and I like it the way it is."

Alex Stuckey, owner of Flower Heaven in High Street, added: "It's not good for us. Logistically for us it will make it very difficult - staff parking, parking for myself, loading and unloading.

"Then there's the grit and the dirt from the work that will affect the front of the store and what we put outside.

"For four years (while the development is being built) businesses are going to have to weather the storm."

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Gravesham MP Adam Holloway

Gravesham MP Adam Holloway also voiced his concerns about the plans.

He said: "This changes nothing - in the sense that this remains an appalling development.

"It now seems inevitable that this low quality, high profit bit of degeneration will be built. 

"Of course the town needs regeneration, but not this: we have been eaten alive."