News

The Core Strategy when agreed will set out the Council’s development strategy until 2026. Consultation has just finished on the Council’s preferred option for the strategy, which would see up to 8,000 new homes built in the district over the next 17 years. This is 2,200 (38%) more than is expected in the South East Plan.

Protect Kent consider that the case for such an increase in the amount of new housing has not been made, and it will result in a number of large poorly located developments in the rural parts of the district.

Brian Lloyd, Protect Kent’s Senior Planner, said: “The South East Plan, which sets specific housing targets for each district area in the south east region, was only finalised in May. It sets a target of 5,800 new homes for Shepway by 2026, a target which was agreed by the Secretary of State following extensive consultation and independent examination.

It came as a complete surprise to us to see that Shepway District Council are now ignoring this and are promoting a much higher level of development. We are particularly concerned that as a result the Council is proposing large sites for development at Sellindge, Lympne, Westenhanger and New Romney.”

Under the Council’s preferred option strategic sites are proposed at Westenhanger for 400 new homes, which it is intended will help secure improvements to the Folkestone racecourse; 400 new homes at Lympne; 300 new homes at Sellindge; and 400 at New Romney.

Commenting on this, Mr Lloyd said: “Most of these locations do not have a wide range of existing community services and facilities, and the proposed developments will place extra pressure on public utilities such as sewage disposal and water supply which are already under strain.

Although they are large sites, they will not have the critical mass to deliver the services and facilities necessary to meet even the daily needs of the new residents, let alone enhance the range of existing services. The result will be large dormitory housing estates in the countryside, where residents will have to travel elsewhere for jobs and most services.

The outcome will be more car journeys, and more greenhouse gas emissions. It is a strategy inconsistent with government policy that seeks to focus development at the larger urban settlements specifically to reduce car-dependency and to cut greenhouse gas emissions.”

The final version of the Core Strategy is still to be agreed by the Council and is likely to be published at the beginning of 2010. It will then be subject to independent examination before it is finalised.

In the meantime, Protect Kent will be seeking a meeting with the Council to discuss its concerns and to try and persuade it to agree a strategy that accords with the development requirements of the South East Plan.