To be reported at length in the next edition of the Faversham Eye…
Swale Green Councillors Lehmann, Gould and Thompson were devastated to be told a few hours before the planning committee meeting on the 7th of November, that the planning decision for the enormous development, Highsted Park, South and East of Sittingbourne had been“called-in”by the government.
Swale planning officers had recommended refusal of the application for nearly ten thousand houses because of the terrible impact it would have on Bapchild, Teynham and the surrounding communities and countryside, but the councillors were given notice shortly before the meeting that the Secretary of State would instead carry out an enquiry.
Councillor Thompson expressed concern that the decision was taken out of local control and an approval could be given for development on prime farmland.
Alistair Gould who is Chair of the council committee developing the new Swale Local Plan due out in 2025 said “what is the point of having a planning committee if we can’t even get to discuss the most controversial planning application on our patch which has cross party opposition? If this development is given the green light, it will make a mockery of local planning decision-making and the development of Local Plans.”
Rich Lehmann added “this will be a disaster for local communities and infrastructure. What happened to Labour’s promise of devolution and more power for local government?”
There have been over 700 objections to this planning application including from the Highways Agency.
The application is from the predacious developers Quinn and Atwood known throughout the county for their opportunistic planning applications.
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