Controversial plans for 800 homes by Kent country park move a step closer

Controversial plans for 800 homes next to a Kent country park have moved a step closer after the first phase was given the go-ahead. One of five planned phases, it will see 91 homes built on fields Capstone Farm Country Park.

The development, put forward by the Attwood farming family on land at East Hill, off North Dane Way, Lordswood, was given approval by Medway Council’s planning committee on May 8. Councillors granted permission for the construction of the detached, semi-detached, and terrace houses, with two parking spaces per property and a kickabout field and children’s play area.

The original outline application for 800 homes on the wider site, along with a new primary school, community facilities, play areas and retail units was initially rejected by the planning committee in March 2021. The application had received more than 900 letters of objection from locals and planning officers said the plans would significantly harm the countryside area and so committee members refused it unanimously.

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However an appeal to the planning inspectorate overruled the council due to a shortfall in the number of houses being built in Medway in February 2022.

The application for the first phase which was discussed at the planning committee itself received 99 letters of objection from residents who raised concerns about increased pressure on local infrastructure and rising air pollution if the development was approved. Councillors expressed concerns about ensuring the developers deliver amenities, particularly the promised primary school, availability of public transport, and the safety of road crossings around a children’s playground.

Cllr Gary Etheridge (Con) said he wanted specific wording which guaranteed developers would follow through with the promised primary school as he believed the developer had no intention of building one. He said: “Should this application be reworded to state very clearly: phase one is housing with the possibility of land being allocated sometime in the future that some other developer to build a school?

“He [the current owner and developer] does not intend to do that at all.”

Officers said the planned school is due to be built in a later phase of the project and the application being considered was only for phase one, meaning considerations for the school would be dealt with at a later date.

Cllr David Field (Lab) said he was disappointed by the dependency on cars the development would create as the nearest bus route was around 15 minutes walk away. Additionally, Cllr Douglas Hamandishe (Lab) said he was worried about the safety of children having to cross North Dane Way, which several councillors said was unsafe because of the speeds cars drive at, to get to the playground on the development.

He said: “My colleague, Cllr Field, asked me if I would be happy to let my children cross that road. I took a look at it and I’m thinking possibly no. [In the designs] you’ve got the youngest children playing nearest to the road.

“My kids are very adventurous – when they a swing they go for it – so maybe there’s a way we can shift it slightly or put in some traffic calming measures just because kids playing on the corner, it’s an recipe for disaster.”

Planning officers said they understood the concern and had taken into consideration the road when designing the layout of the play areas, keeping the space for ball games furthest away so to avoid children chasing balls into the road. They also said, following concerns from committee members, they would consult with the highways authority about improving road safety and look at possible crossing solutions.

The application had been recommended for approval with conditions, including that the plans cannot be significantly altered from those voted on. The application was approved with all 13 of the councillors voting in favour.

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