Developer wants more homes for London overspill
Little evidence of local talks
A developer has argued Maidstone should be building more homes than the 18,560 planned by 2031 to help those struggling to live in London.
The comments came as the long-awaited public hearing into Maidstone council’s Local Plan began this week.
Government inspector Robert Mellor opened the first session in the Town Hall on Tuesday.
The Local Plan covers how the area should develop up to 2031 and how many homes should be built. Mr Mellor’s role over five weeks of hearings is to test how sound it is.
Many hope to convince Mr Mellor the council’s housing target is too high for the area to absorb, while building firms are equally hoping to convince him the figure is too low.
One developer said the council had not taken sufficient account of the shortages in London.
James Stevens from the Home Builders Federation told the hearing all London boroughs apart from Camden had a housing shortfall.
He said: “There will be a significant under-supply in London and it would be prudent for Maidstone to factor this in.”
But representatives for the council said migration from the capital was nothing new and there were already allowances for it in Maidstone’s estimates of population growth.
She pointed out the Mayor of London had insisted he could meet housing needs within the capital.
The inspector noted Mr Stevens had made the same arguments at many different Local Plan inquiries and asked: “Where have your arguments been successful?
Mr Stevens said: “Nowhere.”
Mr Mellor will hear from parish councils, amenity groups, developers, KCC, Swale Borough Council, Highways England and others.
At the end of it, he can accept the proposals put forward by the borough, or order it to make alterations, but he explained he could only make alterations to make the plan compliant with legislation, and not simply to improve it.
The council’s head of planning, Rob Jarman, told the hearing: “We have risen to the challenge of setting local development targets which are appropriate for Maidstone.”
But he said it was understood not all the details would have everyone’s support.
A public inquiry into an application to build on Fant Farm will take place in January next year.
Starting on Tuesday, January 17, it takes place at Oakwood House, Oakwood Road, Maidstone, and is On day 1 of the examination in public, the council was questioned on whether it had met its legal requirement to co-operate fully with neighbouring councils.
Authorities are expected to consult with neighbours over their housing needs to establish if they have any sites suitable for homes – and vice versa.
Roger Vidler of the Bearsted and Thurnham Society, said Maidstone had listed 22 meetings with Tonbridge and Malling officers in its list of evidence, but when he asked for details under an FOI, the council only produced minutes for six.
Andrew Wilford from developers Gleeson and Wates, told the hearing: “These meetings are said to have happened but there is very little evidence about what happened at them.”
For the council, Sarah Anderton said the national policy framework “was clear we should make every effort to meet our needs within the borough.”
The hearings are open to the public, but there is no opportunity to speak except for those already invited to do so.
Full session programme at www.maidstone.gov.uk scheduled to last four days.
The application by Gleeson Developments to build 225 homes on the open space off Gatland Road was rejected by Maidstone council in March but the company has appealed to the planning inspectorate.