Whitehall blocks ‘generic’ homes for countryside
It has been revealed Michael Gove overturned a decision allowing a housing development in the Weald countryside, criticising its “generic suburban nature” and the harm it would do to the landscape.
The Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities put a halt to a bid by Berkeley Homes to build 165 new homes at Turnden, in Cranbrook.
It was called in by then-Secretary of State Robert Jenrick in April 2021 - taking the decision out of Tunbridge Wells council’s hands.
Its planning committee originally voted to back the scheme in January 2021, but it was called in to central government by Natural England. An independent inspector carried out an inquiry into the plan for homes in the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), and recommended Michael Gove, approve it.
But Minister for Housing and Planning, Rachel Maclean, decided on his behalf to refuse permission.
Documents detail how Mr Gove viewed the plans as “of a generic suburban nature which does not reproduce the constituent elements of local settlements”.
The decision notice, which was issued last week, stated: “He also considers that the layout of the scheme does not respond to its AONB setting.
“Overall the Secretary of State agrees with the inspector that there would be some harm to the High Weald AONB, which would be limited, and that the harm to the landscape and scenic beauty of the High Weald AONB attracts great weight.”
However, Tunbridge Wells council is not pleased with the decision.
Cllr Hugo Pound (Lab) cabinet member for housing and planning, said: “The decision by the Secretary of State is a very disappointing one.
“The council strongly believes that the site was appropriate for development, and is taking advice from
Kings’ Counsel about next steps in relation to either dropping the site or considering its further development.” He added: “I don’t think the Secretary of State should interfere in the aesthetics and framing of design, those are local issues that are addressed by our planning department and by our members who saw it at the planning committee.
“We are deeply frustrated by central government’s interference in local planning decisions and we hope we will be able to continue to provide appropriate housing for all tenures going forward.”
Not all Tunbridge Wells councillors are dismayed by the move though.
Cllr Nancy Warne (Tunbridge Wells Alliance) opposed the scheme from the start.
The Cranbook and Benenden representative said: “It would be in an urban sprawl, sort of merging with the next hamlet of Hartley, so that’s completely out of character with the settlement pattern which is really distinctive in the area.”
Under planning law, building in AONBs should be avoided except in exceptional circumstances.
Cllr Warne added: “We didn’t feel that it was justified and that exceptional circumstances had been met. “Natural England called the decision in for consideration by the Secretary of State; that is a really major thing, they hardly ever do that.
“They were very unhappy about this major development in the AONB.”
‘We are deeply frustrated by central government’s interference‘