Daffodils by the gateLamb with room to run.Headcorn High streetHyacinths at back doorKentish farm house in winter
THE WEALD OF KENT PROTECTION SOCIETY
PLANNING
"I have learnt to respect the vibrant and responsive attitude taken by the society over many issues both major and minor; if it had not been for its tactful approach, the Garden of England could have been desecrated."
The late, Sir John Grugeon. Former County Councillor for Tenterden
Biddenden
Apple blossom in the garden of England
Windmill at Cranbrook
Hops for kentish beer
 
WHAT WE DO
Review of planning applications is the core of the Society's work. Through its team of scrutineers, it reviews the list of planning applications from the three Borough Councils which cover the Weald. In most cases no comment or objection is submitted. Occasionally outright objections are made if the scrutineer concerned feels that the application does not comply with planning policy or is in someway detrimental to the environment. Frequently comments are sent in when the application is acceptable in principle but would be improved by the use of more appropriate materials, for instance, or by the development being scaled down.
The scrutineer's views are based, not on personal preference, but on the "Scrutineers Guide", a set of WKPS guidance notes, regularly updated to incorporate the latest planning policies and regulations.
Kitchen garden Charing
Biddenden

Planning meetings are held in different villages each month. Sometimes outside visitors are invited to attend such as the chairman of the parish council. It is on this work that WKPS' well-established reputation for reliability, consistency and knowledge is based.
 

WKPS considers thousands of planning applications submitted to the borough councils of Ashford, Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells every year.  To help those involved in planning applications, WKPS has produced a Planning Primer to help navigate the labyrinth of rules and regulations necessary to reach a satisfactory conclusion.   It begins with an outline of WKPS policy and objectives, moving on to the most common/frequent issues that arise and WKPS attitudes towards them. There then follows a short guide to key web sites that will help you with making a planning application, responding to a planning application that may affect you and other matters of interest.

 
Please click on the link below to download the document of interest:
  WKPS Policy and Objectives
  Frequent Planning Issues
  Guide to Key Web Sites
 

SOMETHING TO WATCH FOR -  A NEW RISK TO UNUSED FARM BUILDINGS
A report in the Rural Services Network talks about the Government doing away with basic tax relief on unoccupied premises.  
Here is the link to the report:
http://www.rsnonline.org.uk/Business/Unfair-tax-will-hurt-rural-economy.html
With particular reference to unused farm buildings, there is a risk that rather than pay tax, the owner might look to demolish buildings which could be of architectural or historic interest and could provide a suitable venue for rural economy.  If the buildings are listed or within the curtilage of a listed building the owner should get listed building consent to demolish.
We urge WKPS members to keep an eye out for people demolishing such buildings without the necessary consent, which in these cases must be applied for in the same way as any proposed building works.   Any such unpermitted actions should be reported to the Planning Secretary for action.

CHILMINGTON GREEN
and the REVIEW of ASHFORD'S CORE STRATEGY

Chilmington Green

There has been much in the media over the last few months to do with potential development at Chilmington Green, which is a small hamlet south west of Ashford, not far from Great Chart. The Coalition Government has relaxed the previous government's policies on housing growth. It is allowing local authorities to set their own priorities and timetable. Ashford Borough Council has therefore decided to bring forward the review of the Core Strategy (formerly planned for 2014) to 2011. The planning department already has this in hand.

However, “leaks” from the Localism Bill before it was published on 13 th December 2010 have led some to think that they can overturn the policies in the Core Strategy. This is not the case. Until the review has been completed and a revised Core Strategy is in place, the current Core Strategy is legally binding on the Council.
The Core Strategy, containing the Borough's strategic plans, identifies two areas for the future expansion of Ashford – Cheeseman's Green/Waterbrook in the south east and Chilmington Green/Discovery Park in the south west. As the government has withdrawn funding for Junction 10A on the M20 for the foreseeable future, it is not possible to develop much of Cheeseman's Green as development here was on condition that Junction 10A would be completed. This puts the spotlight on Chilmington Green. It is partly to enable development there that there have been improvements to Junction 9 and the Drovers Roundabout on the A20.
For the last three years, the Borough Council, in line with the requirements of the Core Strategy, has been working on a master plan for Chilmington Green together with landowners, developers, architects, planners, transport engineers, borough and parish councillors and residents. They have organised workshops and made great efforts to encourage people to take part in the planning. What is gradually appearing from this work is a small town, the building of which would be phased over a number of years. It will hold three primary schools and a secondary school, a high street, and a community centre including healthcare facilities. The existing hamlet with its listed buildings will be largely protected and a village green and cricket pitch is proposed. There will be walking and cycling routes, waterways and a likely increase in wildlife (in the view of the Kent Wildlife Trust) brought about by a greater diversity of habitats.
The big question is now: if the housing figures for Ashford are reduced, do we need development at Chilmington Green? There are about 6,000 existing planning permissions unfulfilled in Ashford, mostly for flats and small houses. Would there be a sufficient water supply? Are there enough schools; what about medical care? Will we lose out on ecology if fields are built over? What about the transport links to the town and elsewhere in the south east?
There will be a thorough discussion of all these issues during the consultation period of the review of the Core Strategy, scheduled to start later this year. There is no doubt that the government is determined on growth. The Localism Bill is not there to stop growth; it is to encourage neighbourhoods, parish councils and local authorities to work together to identify suitable sites.
The WKPS will take an active part in the consultation and will formulate a position on Chilmington Green, as well as other elements of the Core Strategy, at that time. In principle, the WKPS has always opposed development on greenfield sites in all but the most exceptional of circumstances. It is also undeniable that Ashford, with its good transport links, will continue to grow. It may therefore be that the WKPS should take a strong hand in ensuring that any development at Chilmington Green is built to the highest standards, retaining as much green space within the community as possible.
Chilmington Green  
Chilmington Green
 
PLANNING ALERT

NPPF

WKPS is strongly opposed to the tone and a number of policy elements within the government's draft National Policy Planng Framework (2011).  Details of the representations which we shall be making will shortly be published on this website and in the forthcoming edition of 'Watch on the Weald'.

 

"That the Weald of Kent has maintained its distinctive character, with more often than not, new developments being sensitively handled, is a tremendous credit to the commitment of WKPS and especially the dedicated teams of scrutineers who have offered views on countless planning applications over the past four decades."

Trevor Gasson. Director of Planning and Development, Maidstone Borough Council.

 
   
   
 
The WKPS value your feedback and welcome any comments that you may have regarding this website or any other aspect of the work in which the society is involved.