The first step in 30-year development

Proposals for a major new development between Folkestone and Ashford have revealed where developers plan to start building first.

The Otterpool Park greenfield site project, proposed by landowners Folkestone and Hythe District Council (FHDC) and Cozumel Estates, would be delivered in phases over three decades. The outline planning application seeks permission for the first 8,500 homes.

Built around Folkestone Racecourse, the development would gradually connect villages including Westenhanger, Lympne and Sellindge, with green space ‘buffers’ and 10,000 homes in total.

If approved, bosses hope construction on the 765-hectare site will begin next year and it has been forecast that land around Westenhanger railway station and Newingreen will receive treatment first, creating an area called the Gateway.

Documents reveal that it would be located to the north and east of the site and would include new infrastructure connecting to the M20 and a new alignment of the A20.

A design and access statement produced by the developer’s agent, Arcadis, reads: “While the proposed garden settlement is located close to the M20 and high-speed railway, it is poorly connected to them.

“The A20 runs through the site and the local road network connections namely Otterpool Lane, Aldington Road, Harringe Lane, Stone Street and Hythe Road are constrained by various factors.”

There would also be retail and business space and a transport interchange, as well as housing.

At the same time as development at Westenhanger, the papers show homes would be built to the west in the Otterpool Slopes area, with public trans- port and cycling routes linking it to the Gateway.

These developments are expected to happen within the first five years of the project.

After this, Upper Otterpool and land near Lympne would begin to see development after five years, with areas like Sellindge seeing the majority of building around 15 years into the plan. After this time, other gaps would be filled, with development to the south and north of the site being the last to be developed.

‘Walkable neighbourhoods’ are designed to be within close proximity of games and play areas, schools and allotments.

The statement adds: “It is intended that there would be a bus stop within 400 metres of the majority of homes.”

The plans recently received funding from the government and Homes England. In February 2019, the Ministry for Homes, Communities and Local Government pledged £1.25m to the project, the largest sum of the 21 proposed garden town schemes.

The Otterpool Park board is now planning additional public exhibitions for members of the public to view the papers in greater detail and comment. The application is now open for public consultation until Monday, May 27.

▪ To view the planning application in detail and comment, visit the FHDC planning portal or visit the development’s website otterpoolpark.org