Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Been there. Done that.
When we moved into Marlinspike Hall some 35 years ago we got a 'home improvement grant' which meant that lots of poor people paid their taxes so that I, who could afford a big house, had a new fitted kitchen at their expense! Thank you poor people!
Kitchen still working though have had to replace cooker at own expence. :-(
Meanwhile my grocery deliverer's have come up with a revamp on modular/prefab housing (though what the Hell it has to do with 'robots' is beyond me?) :-
http://www.standard.co.uk/ocado-plans-robotpowered-stacking-homes-which-can-be-transported-on-back-of-trucks-a3485451.html
BTW Dalby Square is worth a look around as a local example of Townscape Heritage initiatives :-
https://www.thanet.gov.uk/the-thanet-magazine/campaigns/dalby-square-townscape-heritage-initiative/
http://www.kentgardenstrust.org.uk/research-projects/Thanet/Dalby%20Square.pdf
Fortunately this development is being driven by people who actually understand the dynamics of the built environment rather than a group of 'well meaning' local worthies and the area does not have three conflicting interests pulling in different directions (DTC, DDC, Painted House) which is why they will escape the square being surrounded with large concrete balls and some dancing fountains.
Though it's a bit of a shame that this means ripping up what was announced as:-
Beautiful formal gardens for adults and visitors and a playground for very young children. And a large grassed area where slightly older children can play ball and let off steam whilst being watched by parents from windows in hundreds of flats surrounding the square.
This was put in just over a decade ago, cost the best bit if half a million pounds of 'other people's money' and has become a Mecca for down and outs and crapping dogs!
Doncha love local 'initiatives'?
"We are living in very strange times, and they are likely to get a lot stranger before we bottom out"
Dr. Hunter S Thompson
