Daffodils by the gateLamb with room to run.Headcorn High streetHyacinths at back doorKentish farm house in winter
THE WEALD OF KENT PROTECTION SOCIETY
GOLDEN JUBILEE

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
The planning committee 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. Particularly knotty cases are discussed at the monthly WKPS planning meetings.
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 the work of this committee that the Society's reputation for reliability, consistency and knowledgeability is based.
 

The planning committee have produced a Planning Primer to help those involved in Planning Applications to navigate the labyrinth of rules and regulations necessary to reach a satisfactory conclusion.
The support for, comments on as well as opposition to planning issues and applications affecting the Weald has been at the very heart of the Society’s work since WKPS came into being in 1960. It is on this work that the Society’s 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. While many are well thought out and ably assembled, it is also all too clear that a large number are submitted in ignorance of the circumstances and considerations that so often determine an application’s fate. Given the complexity of planning law and its ever-changing character, this is perhaps not surprising.
What follows is a very short introduction to the subject as it affects WKPS and those living in the Weald, the area of Kent over which WKPS maintains watch. 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
 
PLANNING ALERT
When is a Green field Brown?

WKPS is concerned to stop the Weald being urbanised, and to keep it green. We broadly support the efforts of government and most local authorities to ensure that the housing figures (which local authorities are obliged to accept) are met as far as possible by 'brownfield' development. Recently, however, developers have been succeeding in getting gardens and other green spaces within villages and towns recognised as 'brown', and filling them with houses. In commenting on the government's latest draft housing policy statement (PPS3), we have urged that this be checked.
Brown should mean brown, not green.
 

"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.