Housing targets ‘misleading’ Continued from page one


commissioned by Boughton Monchelsea Parish Council, claimed the council had not al- lowed for the supply of “wind- fall” homes – those that were not developed as a result of planned allocations – which it had been entitled by the NPPF to do. Had the council done so, it would have a five-to-seven year supply of homes, he alleged. Across-party group of council-


lors – Stephen Munford, Daniel Moriarty, Gordon Newton, Paulina Stockell, Dan Daley and Brian Mortimer – forced an ex- traordinary meeting of the coun- cil after hearing that members could be guilty of a ‘legal misdi- rection’, if they had used the offi-


cers’ advice. Referring to Taylor Wimpey’s outline planning application to build up to 600 homes, a primary school, shops and a pub on fields in Langley Park, south of Sutton Road, Maidstone, Mr Lockhart- Mummery QC said: “Members have been given information re- garding the Langley Park Farm development which was amisdi- rection and misleading, and that any planning permission granted based on this advice would be li- able to be quashed in the courts as it is clearly a departure from the local plan.” Cllr Garland insists that the council had only 4.2 years’ worth of land supply – and did include windfall sites. He said: “The con-


tention is thatwehavehad wind- fall sites in the past and not in- cluded them, but changes in the rules – such as those relating to back gardendevelopment –make it more difficult to assess. “We have included windfall


sites which have been granted planning permission.” The six members are calling for


an all-party investigation carried out by a sub-committee of mem- bers and to seek independent legal advice if deemed necessary. Cllr Newton said: “As mem-


bers, we are guided by the offi- cers and if that guidance is misdirected we need to look at it.” The matter was due to be debated at anextraordinary meet- ing on September 2.


Planning free-for-all feared in Marden


RESIDENTS in Marden are particularly concerned about the alleged lack of a five-year land supply, as it could determine whether more homes are built in the open countryside.


After Redrow was given permission to build 130


homes at the MAP depot to the west of Goudhurst Road,Phase2PlanningandDevelopment Ltdhas sub- mitted a planning application to build 144 homes on the opposite side of Goudhurst Road on land known as The Parsonage.


Now Rydon Homes has submitted an outline plan-


ning application fora47-dwellingdevelopmentonland north of Howland Road, between Howland Road and the railway line, just east ofMaidstone Road. The de-


velopment would be amixture of one, two, three and four-bedroom houses, with new access, associated parking, an onsite play area, informal open space and an attenuation pond, which is designed to slow the passage ofwater from surface run-off to theground or drainage system.


The Save Howland Road Wild Meadow group has campaigned against the development, which it says would exacerbate flooding and sewerage problems.


David McFarland, chairman of the Marden History


Group & Heritage Centre said he feared that there could be a planning free-for-all’ in the village, with inundatedapplications,until the council sorted out its core strategy.


Councillor Dorothy Reed, chairman of Marden Parish Council (left) with Taylor Wimpey sales manager Laura Bellamy


Grand opening for retirement homes


PARISH council chairman Cllr Dorothy Reed officially opened a development of cottages and apartments for sale to the over- 60s inMarden. Guests at the launch of Rook-


ery Court, built by TaylorWim- pey, enjoyed music from a string trio, while touring the new gated complex, set in land- scaped tree-lined grounds. Specifications for the homes include energy-efficient light- ing, heating and insulation. TaylorWimpey was awarded


the maximum five stars in this year’s HBF Customer Satisfac- tion Survey. In 2012 it invested over £175 million into areas where it builds, as part of local authority planning agreements.


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