‘Low density’ housing plan WEALDEN Homes has applied to build 29 new homes in Grigg Lane, Headcorn. The outline proposal is next


to the 25-home housing devel- opment currently being built as part of a complex including a doctors’ surgery, pharmacy and nursery school. The applicant says the wood-


land and pond to the rear of Kent Cottage would be re- tained. An additional pond would also be created. A supporting statement said:


“It is a relatively low density scheme when comparing the adjacent 25 unit terraced scheme. “Only 29 dwellings are illus-


trated and these are set in an at- tractive landscape setting. The layout is spacious and provides good size gardens for these fam- ily homes. Maidstone Council will de- termine the outline application, which precedes a full planning application. The developer has already


been given permission to carry out a smaller scheme that would see Kent Cottage and outbuildings make way for two detached homes. Maidstone Council’s plan-


ning committee gave unani- mous backing to the proposal on condition that the applicant, provides a receptor site for great crested newts and existing reptiles living on the land.


Call to draw a


Core Strategy has


been


worked on for around six years and has been delayed by the need to review hous- ing targets. Cllr Garland (pictured) plans to write to the Secretary of State for local gov- ernment, Eric Pickles. He said: “We have been banging on about this Core Strategy since 2006. Every time we go through this, the Government wants more up-to-date evidence. “Other authorities have


fallen down on it because the planning inspector says the ev- idence is out of date. We can’t afford to submit a Core Strat- egy that gets turned down on those reasons. “The Government has to


draw a line in the sand and say that at a certain point in time this is the evidence they will use and stick to it.”


6 South


‘line in sand’ COUNCIL leader Chris Gar- land is urging the Government to relax its housing demands. Maidstone’s


Maidstone’s Core Strategy issues come under the spotlight Homes target set to soar


GOVERNMENT policy could mean Maidstone has to take thousands more homes than originally earmarked in the bor- ough’s Core Strategy proposals. Maidstone Council’s current


draft strategy includes the 10,080 new houses originally required between 2006 and 2026, and proposed sites have been earmarked. But the Gov- ernment is currently rejecting proposed allocations for local authorities across the country, insisting on more housing. Council leader Chris Garland anticipates as many as 5,000 more homes may be required and has put on hold the current Core Strategy, which has been produced in draft form and been the subject of public con- sultation, and told planners to go back to the drawing board. Officers are now working on a


new Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment (SHLAA) document to earmark land that can be used to take the extra housing. This could delay finalising the Core Strategy by up to a year. Salford and Bath are among cities that have had their core


strategies “bounced back” by the Government, insisting on greater housing provision. Rather than find themselves


in a similar position, Maidstone Council is now evaluating likely new requirements. The council, together with KCC, is looking at population trends andtryingtoworkout what would be an acceptable level of housing for the borough. Current estimates could see


an increase in Maidstone’s allo- cation by between 2,500 and 5,000 homes – possibly to a total of around 15,000 for the 20-year period. “Government sees a need for


a substantial growth in building new houses,” said council leader Cllr Chris Garland. “It is achieving this by refusing to ap- prove core strategies unless they reflect this need.” Maidstone had been due to decide on its Core Strategy by March, when the Government’s National Planning Policy Framework comes into being. Without a Core Strategy, councils will be exposed to po- tentially unsuitable develop- ment, with no course of redress.


Sites to be allocated for gypsy families


Continued from page one


pitches near us” and their coun- cillors will support them. “But being pro-active and al- locating sites means we can make sure protected country- side remains protected. More importantly, it allows us to put gypsy and traveller sites in places where they complement and add to the diversity of ex- isting communities.” “If Maidstone borough coun- cillors choose not to allocate land for gypsies, then the coun- cil will continue to lose these cases at appeal – and they will be forced on to communities, often in unsuitable locations.” The top destination for gyp-


sies in the borough is Headcorn, with estimations on the number of pitches topping 80. Cllr Lusty, ward member for Staple- hurst, said: “There are certain parishes that are overrun. Cer- tain areas are reaching satura- tion point. “We have a lot of gypsy sites


in Staplehurst and it is impor- tant that we look at our villages and try to get an even balance. The gypsy community has a right to live in caravan sites in our community but some vil- lages are getting too many.” Cllr Lusty’s comments were


made at ameeting that saw plan- ning permission granted for two more gypsy sites in Headcorn.


It was agreed to allow one res- idential caravan and touring caravan to be sited on land at Love Lane to become the road’s fourth gypsy site. There are 12 bricks and mortar homes in Love Lane. The committee also agreed,


again unanimously, to grant permission for John Skilton to station one mobile home in Granada, Lenham Road. “This will mean three traveller sites and three bricks and mortar houses at this part of Lenham Road,” said Headcorn parish councillor Dave Andrews. Referring to the Love Lane proposal, Headcorn ward Cllr Jenefer Gibson said: “Individu- ally this planning application may seem innocuous but I am very anxious about the cumula- tive effect on Headcorn. “Headcorn is being asked to


take an unacceptable number of sites, which causes huge stress on various services such as schools and health services. “The parish council feels enough is enough. Four sites in Love Lane does not sound ex- cessive, but when you compare this to the 12 bricks and mortar homes down a very small coun- try lane it is unfair to say it will not have an effect. “I would like councillors to


come up with a figure for gypsy sites in each ward area.”


Visit Downs Mail’s website — downsmail.co.uk


However, Cllr Garland said he hoped the council could agree on an interim strategy before March 2013. The Government believes en- couraging more housing devel- opment will help to kick-start economic growth, as well as ful- fil the need for more housing – although the leader of the coun- cil remains unconvinced. “We are going to face real dif- ficulties identifying more sites, and will almost certainly have to build on the sites that have already been proposed, which some people are opposed to, to provide this increased number of homes,” he said. Rural areas could also come


under increased threat of devel- opment, as the town centre is already practically at capacity. “With more housing comes


the need for an improved trans- port infrastructure, so the situa- tion becomes even more complex,” said Cllr Garland. “We will have to have im- proved bus networks and pub- lic transport and encourage people to use it to avoid mas- sive congestion.”  See MailMarks – page 25


Developers encouraged


THE news that an additional 5,000 homes may be required will fuel hope among develop- ers that previously out-of- bounds greenfield land will now be available to build on. One such developer, Eco


Build Partnership, has ear- marked open countryside bor- dering Broomfield Road and Gravelly Bottom Road for 1,000 new homes, which would in- clude a large retirement village. The company said: “The de- velopment would receive elec- tricity and heat from the only commercial-size renewable bio- mass power station in the bor- ough.” The development, earmarked for land owned by Rob Schroeder,was dismissed as “ludicrous” last summer byKCC member Cllr Jenny Whittle.


Safety awards MAIDSAFE Awards have been presented to individu- als and organisations who help keep the county town trouble-free. Winners in- cluded the security teams from Marks & Spencer, Pri- mark and Fremlin Walk, and the Street Pastors, security staff received the team award for regularly visiting shops in their area, dramatically re- ducing crime with the visi- bility of their presence. PCSOs Neil Lettington and Caroline Honeysett also re- ceived awards.


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48