News
Housing figures down but villages ‘still at risk’
MAIDSTONECouncil has reduced its housing target to 18,600 – a fig- ure still high enough to cause alarm in some of the borough’s villages. Latest statistics from the Office for National Statistics, together with new planning practice guidance, mean Maidstone has been able to re- duce its “objectively-assessed need” for housing by 1,000 to 18,600 homes – the equivalent of 930 new homes each year by 2031. In the past year, Marden has been
the village most affected by the lack of land in the borough to meet Gov- ernment housing targets. Since July 2013, three major devel- opments, totalling more than 300 homes, mainly in open countryside, have been given the go-ahead for Marden, leading to fears that the character of the village will be lost. However, while the council’s draft
local plan allocates 170 homes at Stanley Farms, the planning com- mittee has agreed to accept Mill- wood Homes’ outline proposal for only 85 homes. However, places like Harrietsham and Lenham, in the east, could be
worse hit because of their proximity to the A20 and the motorway. Planning scrutiny committee chairman Cllr Val Springett, who represents Bearsted on the council, said: “Bearsted used to be very small. Sadly, it is ona very good road and so are Harrietsham and Lenham.” Although the committee was
united in being “appalled” at the housing need target, members ac- cepted that some development was inevitable – but they wanted to en- sure itwas carried out where, when and how itwaswanted. Cllr Springett said: “Iwas not pop-
ular with the officers for saying last year that these figureswere ‘the con- sultants’ best guess’. I believe this figure of 18,600 will come down. Housebuilders will not build if their houses are not selling.” UKIP Cllr Eddie Powell said the figures would need major adjust- ment, for example, if immigration were to be halted by border closures but Cllr Stephen Munford said he had no confidence in the report, ar- guing the council should have
waited for the revised figures before coming up with its plan. Principal planning officer Sarah Anderton explained it had not been prudent towait andwould have left the council at least six months be- hind in producing a draft local plan. Members recommended the coun-
cil give officers full support – aswell as additional funds if needed – to en- able them to investigate ways of re- ducing the housing need figure. Cabinetmemberfor planning, Cllr
David Burton reminded members: “We are not just arguing about sta- tistics here.We are making decisions so that our children, grandchildren – and, indeed, our parents – can have decent homes in the future.” Council leader Annabelle Black-
more said: “We have to make some tough, unpopular decisions and the outcome is not going to be pleasant for everyone – but our children need decent, quality homes.” Cllr James Ross said: “Having a
plan is better than no plan. It gives us some degree of control. If we do nothing, there will still be lots of de- velopment in Maidstone anyway.”
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How change came about
ALTHOUGH officers have identi- fied a need for an additional 960 elderly care home spaces between now and 2031, the need for addi- tional sheltered accommodation and extra care homes is included in the lowered 18,600 figure. The change has come about be-
cause previous estimates had been based on figures projecting only as far as 2021, whereas the latest Office for National Statistics figures look ahead to 2037 – well in advance of the town’s 2031 cut- off point. Changes in migration was just
one of the factors which could af- fect local plans however, and offi- cers said they kept a watching brief on all new information as it emerged. Fears were expressed that large numbers of affordable homes could affect the dynamics of vil- lages, prompting Cllr Fran Wilson to ask for a debate on affordable housing. She said: “It can be a way of helping people get on the hous- ing ladder.”
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