Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
Home-building plan cut back
... but opposition still strong from villagers’ group
Developers behind a controversial 300-acre development in an area of outstanding natural beauty have been forced to downsize their plans in the face of stiff opposition.
Earlier this year, Quinn Estates unveiled proposals for 300 luxury holiday houses, 150 retirement homes, a business park and new facilities for both Canterbury Rugby Club and Canterbury City Football Club at Highland Court Farm in Bridge.
But following the results of a public consultation it has decided to scale back the development.
Mark Quinn, who is working on the scheme with Highland Court Estates, claims the concept has received significant support but he has “listened to the feedback”.
He still believes the project could deliver considerable social, economic and sporting benefits while “keeping the environment at the heart of the development”.
But he now says a new scheme with a third less housing will be worked on and brought back for public consultation.
Quinn Estates development director Alastair Cracknell said: “From our public consultations, we have taken on board the comments from local residents and are now working on redesigning the scheme to address these points, which includes significantly reducing aspects of the proposals.
“Once the new plans have been firmed up, we intend to undertake further consultations and work with local residents to design a development Canterbury can be proud of.”
But a smaller scheme is unlikely to placate the Barham Downs Action Group (BADG), which has been revived to challenge the proposal.
Almost 50 people attended a recent meeting in the village organised by the group, and member Mike Sole says reducing the number of holiday homes and retirement houses will still not be acceptable.
“There is absolutely no justifi- Mike Sole says the plans are unsuitable for the area
cation for this kind of development in an area of outstanding natural beauty whatsoever. It is far too big a price to pay,” he said.
BADG has now launched a Facebook page and is planning to leaflet thousands of homes in the surrounding parishes.
“We want to make everyone fully aware of exactly what is a stake and the risk to the surrounding countryside,” Mr Sole said.
Quinn Estates also angered the group with a claim in its consultation literature that Kent Wildlife Trust was a “partner” in the scheme – a relationship later rejected by the charity.
The trust has been quick to correct Quinn Estates’ error and says it is only working with the developer in an advisory capacity and “reserves all rights to object to the scheme should it reach the planning application stage”.
Mr Cracknell said the company “deeply apologised” for the misleading information, adding: “We wish to clarify that Kent Wildlife Trust’s role has always been in an advisory capacity to help us in creating a national exemplar where nature is at the forefront of the development proposals.”