Government To Intervene In "New Town" Plans

The Highsted Park development, proposed by Quinn Estates, to the south and east of Sittingbourne has been "called in" by The Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government.

Swale Borough Council’s Planning Committee were due to decide on the application at a meeting at Swale House last night (Thursday 7th November), but the decision was “ripped out of its hands at the eleventh hour” as Swale BC confirmed it had been called-in by the government at short notice after a letter was received from them at 3:00pm.

In a statement Cllr Elliott Jayes, Vice Chair of the council’s Planning Committee, told SFM News: “The Secretary of State has called in the applications for land to the west of Teynham (21/503906/EIOUT) and land south and east of Sittingbourne (21/503914/EIOUT) and will now be determining them. We will work closely with the Secretary of State as they make their determination, but we will robustly explain the council’s reasons for recommending refusal. We understand the importance of these two applications but would appreciate being informed of the Secretary of State’s decision before less than three hours until the planning committee meeting so we can adequately prepare our response."

The Planning Committee meeting did go ahead, and members of the committee discussed the council’s response to the Secretary of State’s request for information and also unanimously voted to oppose both applications. Cllr Mike Baldock told the meeting "these plans have been ill thoughtout" with Cllr Monique Bonney adding "fundamental issues have never been addressed".

It is understood that the council’s vote does not mean the application was officially rejected. Instead, it will inform the case that they can make to an inquiry which would be similar to a planning committee, with representatives of developers, the council and local communities all making their case.

All documentation will now be sent to The Planning Inspectorate and there is a time limit of 22 weeks for them to complete an inquiry to report back to Angela Rayner MP, Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government.

At the current time it is not known if this inquiry will be held locally.

Last night's meeting can be watched in full on Swale Borough Council's You Tube Channel at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-d8JNp3K3fQ