Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
HOUSING CRISIS WILL ONLY INCREASE IF PROJECTS KEEP BEING CHALLENGED
The path is now clear for Corinthian to begin work on the first 140 houses of the Mountfield Park scheme.
When complete, it will be the single largest planning development ever created in Canterbury and will sit on what is now agricultural land to the south of the Barton estate and the west of Dover Road.
Corinthian managing director, Simon Wright, said: “The proposed development at Mountfield Park has been through an extensive planning progress over several years, widespread public consultation and legal challenges.
“It is a major development and we appreciate that its basis needs to be proved sound, from everyone’s perspective.
“It is also very important to have democracy and the right to challenge as an integral part of the planning process, but there comes a time when everyone needs to come together to deliver the infrastructure that is clearly needed.
“Our young people need new houses and the current housing crisis is only going to get worse if projects like Mountfield Park keep getting delayed by technical challenges that are ultimately rejected.
“We are now progressing our discussions with all the relevant stakeholders, Kent and Canterbury Hospital, the University of Kent and others who have an interest in securing the social and economic benefits provided by Mountfield Park.
“We are grateful this decision has brought the first phase of housing, which will include an element of discounted sales, a step closer.”