At the Parish Council meeting of 13th September 2017, representatives for Redrow Homes addressed the Parish Council and the 200 plus members of the public regarding an application they are proposing regarding farmland at Walnut Tree Farm which is off Britannia Road, to the east of Willowbank Drive and behind Longfield Avenue. The access to this new development would be a new access road from Britannia Road.
The initial proposal was to discuss 71 dwellings (this isn’t a final number and may be subject to change) which were made up of a mixture of 2, 3 and 4 bedroom houses and 3 storey flats. In accordance with any new proposals there was also a 30% allocation allowed for affordable houses.
Medway Council are currently producing a Medway Plan (due for completion late 2018, early 2019), which will have a number of options which the representatives from Redrow Homes are saying that this site is included in some of these options. The fact the plan for Medway Council has yet to be agreed means that this can be seen as a predatory application with developers trying to exploit the current situation.
The representatives explained that they had undertaken their own ecological assessment as well as reviewing other survey results from other agencies. They plan to consult with the residents of High Halstow individually as well as holding an exhibition for all to see the whole detail in order to ascertain views
The Parish Council accepted that that there was likely to be some form of housing allocation when the overall plan is adopted but it had to be acknowledged that this development may not have been part of this plan and therefore could be an additional allocation.
Previous expansion in recent years, when the village approximately doubled in size provided no additional services/improvements to the village and these issues would need to be addressed as otherwise this development would only compound the inherent problems such as
Please find below pictures of the plan circulated at the meeting, this plan is also available to be seen at the Village Hall, main door. The Parish Council will be seeking your views and trying to ensure all the information to be had is available to all of the residents
“Southend Airport are Changing Flight Paths Over the Peninsula ”
They are putting in place a beacon system to be able to guide aircraft into land without the use of their existing radar ( vectoring) system. Initially it will be used as a back up safety feature as not all aircraft using the airport are equipped with the technology.
The becon route will guide aircraft in over Hoo and between Cliffe and Cliffe Woods.
The traffic we are seeing today is about 50% of the total allowable flights so it is possible that we will see an increase in existing traffic with appropriately 10% of that traffic using the new beacon route.
The allowable height for aircraft flying over the peninsula is not changing.
The consultation for the Parish Council closes 19th September.. if you want to express your views please respond ASAP via clerk@highhalstow.org.uk
Agents for a developer are set to attend the September High Halstow Parish Council meeting with reference to a proposed development in High Halstow.
If you would like to hear what the Agent has to say about this proposed development please ensure you attend the meeting at
8.00 pm
13th September 2017
The Memorial Hall
The RSPB and Kent Wildlife Trust welcome the withdrawal today of the planning application to build 5,000 houses at Lodge Hill, Medway (Kent).
Lodge Hill is nationally protected as a Site of Special Scientific Interest for the rare and declining nightingale, holding up to 85 singing males. The site is also important for a wide range of other declining wildlife and habitats, including bats, rare grassland flowers and ancient woodland.
The development would have destroyed most of the nightingales’ habitat, and would have set a terrible precedent for protected sites everywhere.
Over 12,000 people objected to the planning application when it was approved by Medway Council in 2014, promoting the government to ‘call in’ the decision; it was due to have gone to Public Inquiry in March 2018
However, the site remains earmarked for development by Medway Council in their draft Local Plan, released earlier this year. Over 12,000 people also responded to that proposal, pointing out how this was at total odds with national planning guidance, and asking the Council to remove Lodge Hill from their final plan due in 2018.
Nic Scothern, the Regional Director for RSPB South East, said “The withdrawal of the planning application is great news, and an important step towards securing a brighter future for Lodge Hill. Our thanks to the government’s agencies who made this decision.
“However, we cannot assume that Lodge Hill is now secure, so we call on those involved to now be creative and find solutions for the site that bring real benefit to the local community while protecting its very special wildlife.”
John Bennett, Chief Executive of Kent Wildlife Trust, said “After a huge amount of work over many years to protect Lodge Hill, alongside RSPB and other conservation partners, we welcome the common sense shown by the withdrawal of this damaging development application. We look forward, optimistically, to a positive future for the area and its wildlife, which is important for Kent and the country as a whole.”
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