Residents will wish to note that an appeal has been lodged by Nightingale Homes (Upchurch) Ltd against the Borough Council’s refusal for outline Planning Permission for 55 houses at the Funton Brickworks Site. Details of the application can be found at:
http://pa.midkent.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=summary&keyVal=NMR23NTY0XN00
or by calling into Swale House and asking to see the application.
One of the reasons given for the appeal is the low number of objections received from residents of Lower Halstow. The Council objected to the proposal and would urge residents to make their views known to the Planning Inspectorate.
Set out below are points you might like to raise to object to the proposal, based on the National Planning Framework (NPF). Using the NPF policies give valid reasons for the Inspector to turn down the appeal.
The development is in an inappropriate location as it is an isolated site. This goes against Swale Borough council’s recommendations which state that the problems that the proposals create are not outweighed by any gain. The location means it will have a very negative impact on:
Visual impact – over intensification of the site, plus light and noise pollution, (NPPF 55) Site falls within an Area of High Landscape Value (AHVL)
Visual impact on the open coastal, marsh environs
Unsustainable – cannot meet the everyday requirements of the residents (NPPF 70, 32) everything that residents will need for day–to–day living must come from offsite, resulting in increased traffic movements.
Visual impact – over intensification of the site, plus light and noise pollution, (NPPF 55) Site falls within an Area of High Landscape Value (AHVL)
Visual impact on the open coastal, marsh environs
Unsustainable – cannot meet the everyday requirements of the residents (NPPF 70, 32) everything that residents will need for day–to–day living must come from offsite, resulting in increased traffic movements.
Traffic movements – concerns were raised by Kent Highways, the impact will far outweigh any nuisance/noise Halstow residents experienced when the brickworks were open as the factory operated a deliberate policy of not allowing traffic to pass through the village. A residential site will operate 365 days a year, the roads are unclassified, therefore national speed limit of 60mph applies, traffic does pass at speed; walkers, cyclists and horse riders use the road. No footpath and no street lighting. Children will not be able to safely walk to school.
Detrimental impact of significance on the protected RAMSAR/SSSI site nearby, increased use of nearby Special Protection Areas leading to an overall negative impact on the wildlife, especially bird watching (NPPF 109, 113,118,119)
Spirit of Sittingbourne Regeneration and Perry Court, Faversham have both been granted permission for housing since this application was first refused, weakening the argument for need.
Any comments should be sent to the Planning Inspectorate by Email to: robert.cook@pins.gsi.gov.uk or in writing to Room 3/0,Temple Quay House, 2 The Square, Bristol, BS1 6PN, quoting reference APP/V2255/W/16/3146393.
DEADLINE FOR REPLIES IS TUESDAY 24TH MAY 2016
Lower Halstow Parish Council
Email: clerk.lhpc@gmail.com
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