Decision day is nearing for huge housing scheme

The city council is next week poised to approve the biggest housing scheme Canterbury has ever seen when planners meet to determine the fate of the proposed Mountfield Park development.

Despite significant opposition, the authority’s planning department is recommending that permission for 4,000 homes to the south of Canterbury is granted.

Also on the table are two primary schools, a petrol station, medical centre, hotel, places of worship and a “community hub” comprising shops and business units.

Open spaces and sporting facilities are also planned for the 573acre site, which could increase the city’s population by 9,000.

Opponents fear that the scheme will intensify congestion on roads in the south of the city and worsen its air quality.

Questions about the scale of the development and its impact on demand for local services have also been raised.

Last week’s Kentish Gazette revealed there is also considerable disquiet about the loss of valuable agricultural land.

Developer Corinthian is promising to create a green “garden city” connected to central Canterbury by bike, foot and bus routes.

The development is set in two halves – one south of the Barton estate and east of the New Dover Road and the other west of the Old Gate Inn and behind the Girls’ Langton and St Anselm’s Schools.

Mountfield Park is the cornerstone of Canterbury City Council’s Local Plan, the planning blueprint for the district that envisages an additional 16,000 homes across the district.

Next week’s planning committee is a special meeting with only the Mountfield proposal up for debate. However, the council has modified its usual speaking arrangement to allow for additional speakers. Up to 25 people are expected to speak – with 12 alone coming from local residents’ associations.

Council leader Simon Cook will speak on technical issues relating to the Nailbourne ward he represents.

He told the Gazette this week: “Undoubtedly, this is a major application and it will be properly examined. That is why we are having this special meeting to decide it.

“The fact it is so significant means that we have decided to vary our normal speaking arrangements and have expanded it to include all the local residents’ associations.

“We know this application is contentious and that is why we are doing this as carefully as possible.”

The application by Corinthian goes before the committee for detailed planning permission for 140 houses and outline planning permission for 3,860 homes, plus all the associated buildings planned for the site.

The committee meets at 6.30pm on Tuesday in the Guildhall. Log on to www.canterbury.gov. uk and follow the link to south Canterbury planning application to view the council’s 132page report.

Council leader Simon Cook