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CPRE Kent response to proposed planning reforms

Posted 8th Oct 15, filed under News, Planning

The Government has proposed sweeping reforms to the planning system including:

* Automatic planning permission on all suitable brownfield (former industrial) sites, removing unnecessary delays

* Power for the Government to intervene and have local plans drafted when councils fail to produce them and penalties for those that make 50 per cent or fewer planning decisions on time

* Stronger compulsory purchase powers to bring forward more brownfield land, and devolution of planning powers to the Mayors of London and Manchester

* Major infrastructure projects which include housing development to be fast-tracked

* End the need for planning permission for upwards extensions for a limited number of storeys up to the height of the adjoining building in London

* Higher-density development around key commuter hubs

* Redefining “affordable housing” to include discounted market housing, i.e. starter homes.

Photo: CPRE

CPRE Kent response:

CPRE Kent agrees that we need to build more homes, especially affordable homes.

In 2012-13, the UK hit a post-war low of 135,500 homes. Last year the figure recovered slightly to 141,000 homes.

However we know there are existing sites with planning permission for thousands of homes in Kent and elsewhere and we believe more should be done to actually get these homes built. Too many companies are landbanking (the practice of buying land as an investment, holding it for future use or selling it on with permission but without specific plans for homes to be constructed – i.e land trading). There should be measures put into place to make them actually deliver these new homes within a certain time.

We have long been calling for better use for brownfield sites and are glad the government is backing this. However there still needs to be local consideration about sustainability and infrastructure and which sites are suitable for housing development. CPRE believes there should be a strong presumption in favour of “brownfield first” with these safeguards.

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2015 AGM – Friday 20th November

Posted 7th Oct 15, filed under Events

The 2015 AGM of CPRE Kent will be held on Friday 20th November at Lenham Village Hall.

The meeting will start at 2pm and is preceded by a ploughman’s lunch at 12.30 for those who wish to book.

Aerial view of Lenham, photo by Peter Bailey

This year the keynote speaker is Andrew Brown, BA PhD MCIfA, Planning and Conservation Director, South East Planning Group, Historic England and he will talk about “Championing Kent’s Historic Environment”.

At the meeting the Honorary Officers and members of the Board will be elected, accounts considered and membership and volunteering opportunities discussed.

To view the agenda click here.

To view the invitation and book the ploughman’s lunch click here.

To read the minutes of the 2014 AGM click here.

To read the Director’s report and unaudited financial statements to 31 March 2015 click here.

Controversial Chislet windfarm plan shelved

Posted 6th Oct 15, filed under News, Planning

Controversial plans for a wind farm of between 9 and 11 turbines on-shore, between Sarre and St Nicholas at Wade on the borders of Canterbury and Thanet districts have been shelved. RES Developments Ltd has suspended its proposals to build turbines up to 150m high (taller than the London Eye).

Artists’s impression, photo by Stop Chislet Windfarm

The Government is withdrawing support for onshore wind farms with good reason – the landscape and community impacts are frequently unacceptable.

RES says it will suspend discussion on the windfarm until the Local Plan (currently at Examination stage) has progressed further and it has seen what happens over proposed housing developments and the Richborough connection power lines.

RES wind farm in Norfolk

CPRE Kent Director Hilary Newport said: “While we remain hugely supportive of the development of renewable and low-carbon energy, we maintain that energy infrastructure should be built at appropriate scale and in appropriate locations. ”

For more information on the Stop Chislet Windfarm Campaign click here.

October 5th 2015

MPs asked to help protect the countryside

Posted 1st Oct 15, filed under Campaigns, Housing numbers, News

All the MPs in Kent have been sent a detailed map of their constituencies highlighting the proportion of countryside and the amount of it that is unprotected in a bid to raise awareness and build support for our campaigns to protect the countryside.

Elham Valley, photo by Avidly Abide

The maps detail how much land is in the Green Belt, protected by Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) status, covered by a local plan (in Kent only Shepway and Gravesham have local plans in place) and how much is unprotected.

As a result MPs should have a better understanding of the countryside in their area and how well it is protected. CPRE Kent hopes that the new map will encourage our local MPs to help protect the countryside from inappropriate development, and ensure that much-needed new homes are built in the right places.

Kent countryside by Grant Cherrington

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150 attend public meeting on solar farm

Posted 30th Sep 15, filed under Events, News

More than 150 villagers attended a public meeting on Friday (October 2nd) to discuss plans for a 28 acre solar farm in Headcorn.

Library photo of solar panels

Solar Securities is seeking planning permission to create a 29,400 panel solar farm at Great Tong Farm which it says will power 1,029 homes.

The meeting at Headcorn Village Hall was called by Faversham and Mid Kent MP Helen Whately and speakers included Richard Knox-Johnston, CPRE Kent Vice President, as well as Protect our Weald and the Weald of Kent Preservation Society.

Mr Knox-Johnston said the site would have a significant impact on the landscape, would be seen http://www.onlinepharmacytabs.com from the Greensand Ridge and was close to 23 listed buildings. Residents expressed concern about possible flooding risk and access.

Maidstone Borough Council policy and resources committee recently voted to create a Low Weald Landscape of Local value and it is hoped this, and the views of local people, will be taken into account when deciding on the scheme. Ulcombe Parish Council discussed the application on Thursday (October 1st) and Headcorn Parish Council will decide on the plans on October 14th in its meeting at 8pm in the village hall. The deadline for responses to the planning application is October 15th

October 7th 2015

Campaign to stop fast-track fracking decisions

Posted 9th Sep 15, filed under Fracking, News

CPRE Kent is supporting a challenge to Government plans to fast-track applications for fracking projects.

According to the Government announcement on 13 August, councils will be given a deadline of 16 weeks to approve or reject applications; after then, ministers will have the power to call them in and make a decision themselves. The Government will also consider calling in any application for shale gas and oil exploration, and will consider recovering appeals. In publishing the announcement, Communities Secretary Greg Clark said that “no one benefits from uncertainty caused by delays in planning decisions”.

We are highly concerned that this removes decision-making from local communities and is out of step with plans for new energy infrastructure.

Fracking well in North Dakota

Nick Clack, national CPRE senior energy campaigner said: “Ministers talk of a national need for shale gas and oil, but have yet to make a convincing case to communities. These changes, which could see Government taking more decisions away from local people, won’t help to persuade them and could fuel division and disempowerment. Enabling broad local conversations about what appropriate local energy projects might be, taking full account of local environmental impacts, would be the most positive way forward.

“It is very concerning that it looks like Government has chosen a different path for fracking than for onshore wind planning, where recent welcome changes have sought to put local communities at the heart of decisions. Why is greater localism appropriate for some new energy projects, but not for others? It sounds disingenuous for the Government to claim that local communities will remain fully involved in shale gas and oil planning decisions if these decisions are ultimately taken by ministers.

“Taken with the weak statutory safeguards proposed for protected areas, the fracking announcement suggests a wish to create a fracking regime that works more effectively for developers than for local people and the environment.”

CPRE Kent is now backing a campaign to look at taking the Government decision to judicial review. This case will be the first to challenge the Government’s pro fracking stance, approach to climate change and local democracy. We are seeking to get the Government to change course and to implement adequate climate change policies and to give local communities a say in what energy choices they would prefer.

For more information click here.

September 9th 2015.

#ourgreenbelt

Posted 8th Sep 15, filed under Blog, Campaigns, Events

The Green Belt: it’s where we relax, where we watch wildlife, where we cycle and walk and picnic. The wonderful views and the tranquillity of open countryside is so important to our health and well-being. That is why CPRE has launched a campaign to protect it in its sixtieth anniversary year.

The Green Belt is massively under attack from developers seeking to encroach on to the green buffer created sixty years ago to provide distinction between towns and villages – a vital green lung around the built up areas.

Lullingstone park, photo by Susan Pittman

In Kent we have a large amount of Green Belt – 93% of Sevenoaks, 77% of Gravesham, 71% of Tonbridge and Malling, 56% of Dartford and 22% of Tunbridge Wells. If you love your Green Belt please get involved by sharing your photos, memories, creative works or just your support and thoughts via #ourgreenbelt.

Lavender at Castle Farm, Lullingstone, photo by Glen Humble

We will use this to convince the Government that the Green Belt needs protection and must be preserved for our future and our children’s future.

For more information click here.

September 8th 2015.

Maidstone Council decides against development at Junction 8

Posted 20th Jul 15, filed under News, Planning

Maidstone Borough Council has voted overwhelmingly to remove a proposal to develop Junction 8 of the M20 that was included in its Draft Economic Development Strategy 2015-2031. This reversed a decision of the Policy and Resources Committee and followed pressure from CPRE Kent, parish councils, Leeds Castle and thousands of residents.

However the strategy does still include a paragraph stating “the strategic case for a new employment site has been established…” so the victory may only be partial and temporary.

Photo by Stephen Sutherland

We are still awaiting the decision of the planning inspector into plans Waterside park, a warehouse and industrial development at the site.

Madestone Borough Council spent tens of thousands of pounds opposing this development at the recent public inquiry. the plans were also opposed by Kent County Council, Natural England and Kent Police for many reasons including harm to the setting of the Area of Outstanding natural beauty, harm to the important heritage setting of Leeds Castle, fears of contamination of water supplies, lack of sustainability, particularly inadequate public transport.

July 20th 2015

Canterbury Local Plan Examination

Posted 7th Jul 15, filed under Events, News

CPRE Kent disputed the housing target and strategic sites identified in the Canterbury Local Plan at Stage 1 of the Examination in July.

We had already warned that Canterbury City Council should have carried out further consultations on the plan when it greatly increased its housing target to 15,600 homes.

Photo by Steffan Boelaars, flickr

In January 2010, the council consulted on a Local Plan with a target of 10,200 new homes by 2026 (510 per year). In 2012, this target was revised to 15,600 new homes by 2031 (780 per year). However, despite the significant increase, the council relied on its earlier environmental assessments of where new development should be located.

“Despite our warnings, the City Council is pressing ahead with its flawed plan,” said CPRE Kent Senior Planner Brian Lloyd. “The council has seemingly, from the outset, cast in stone the sites it wants to see developed, and despite high levels of public opposition it has not been prepared to consider alternatives. We still believe that the plan is unsound.”

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Great to meet you all at the Kent County Show

Posted 6th Jul 15, filed under Blog, Events

It was great to meet so many people at the Kent County Show last weekend (Friday 10th-Sunday 12th). Marketing Manager Vicky Ellis and lots of our volunteers and members chatted to visitors from across the county and beyond with our latest campaign news on our work to protect the wonderful Kent countryside.

The free prize draw to win a bird hamper, including bird box and feed, donated by Dobbies in Ashford, was won by Liz Stamp from Rainham.

The next event we are attending is Tractor fest in Biddenden on 22-23 August.

Astonishment as councillors now asked to support development at Junction 8

Posted 22nd Jun 15, filed under News, Planning

We are astounded that Maidstone councillors are being recommended to approve the principle of development at Junction 8 of the M20 just weeks after spending hundreds of thousands of pounds fighting a planning appeal at the site.

The result of the public inquiry into industrial development at Waterside Park at Junction 8 is not known yet. CPRE Kent, 16 parish councils, Kent County Council, Natural England, Leeds castle and the Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Unit all opposed the plans which would have harmed the countryside setting of the AONB and the important heritage setting of Leeds castle.

Photo by Stephen Sutherland

Now Maidstone Borough Council’s Policy and Resources Committee is being recommended on Wednesday (June 24^th) to approve an Economic Development Strategy supporting development at Junction 8. We have written to the council demanding that the report be removed from the agenda. Continue reading →

Countryside Charter delivered to Downing Street

Posted 22nd Jun 15, filed under Campaigns, News

CPRE Kent Chairman Christine Drury was part of the delegation handing in CPRE’s 80,000 strong petition to save the countryside into Downing Street last week (17th June).

CPRE Kent Chairman Christine Drury at Number 10

Over the last two years 80,890 people signed the Charter which has now been left with the Prime Minister. Support for the Charter came from all over the world as it is widely recognised that England’s countryside has a unique and special character that must be protected.

Christine Drury said: “Thank you to the many people in Kent who signed the Charter. Members and non-members alike supported these important demands to the Government: brownfield first, more listening to communities and more housing in the right places.”

Photo: CPRE, Stefano Cagnoni

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Chislet windfarm plans shelved

Posted 15th Jun 15, filed under News, Planning

Artists’s impression, photo by Stop Chislet Windfarm

The Government is withdrawing support for onshore wind farms with good reason – the landscape and community impacts are frequently unacceptable.

RES wind farm in Norfolk

For more information on the Stop Chislet Windfarm Campaign click here.

October 5th 2015

Legal challenge to damaging development at Farthingloe

Posted 10th Jun 15, filed under Campaigns, News

CPRE Kent has challenged the legality of Dover District Council’s decision to allow hundreds of new homes to be built at Farthingloe, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

We have lodged a Judicial Review at the High Court into the decision to grant planning permission for 521 homes and a 90 apartment retirement village. We believe the development would cause significant, irreversible harm to a beautiful and historic landscape.

Dover District Council granted final permission in April 2015 for a 130 bed hotel and conference centre, residential units and a museum/visitor attraction at Western Heights as well as the 521 homes, retirement village and a health facility at Farthingloe. The council agreed to the scheme because of a claimed shortfall in housing provision in the district and the economic benefits that would result from a £5m contribution towards heritage improvements at the Western Heights.

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Warning of serious increase in air pollution

Posted 2nd Jun 15, filed under News, Transport

CPRE Kent has made final comments to the Airports Commission raising concerns about the serious impact on air quality of a new runway at Gatwick or Heathrow.

Any additional runway capacity will damage the UK’s efforts to control its carbon emissions.
And, as the UK Supreme Court has stated, the Air Quality Directive requires no detriment to existing air quality.

CPRE Kent Director Dr Hilary Newport said: “It is impossible to increase the number of flights from any airport without increasing air pollution. We trust that the Commission and the Government will at last recognise this and rule out expansion to protect the health, welfare and economy of the UK.”

CPRE Kent makes the point that the Airports Commission is assessing the economic benefits of a new runway operating at full capacity; while looking at the environmental impact based on it operating at half or less capacity (in 2030).

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