Kentish Express Ashford & District
Large Burton chiefs hit back over traffic
Developers hoping to build 750 homes on the edge of town say they are proposing a “comprehensive package of mitigation” to combat the impact on traffic.
Bosses at Quinn Estates want to build the so-called Large Burton estate on fields off Willesborough Road in Kennington and have submitted an outline application to Ashford Borough Council (ABC).
As revealed in last week’s Kentish Express, Kent County Council’s (KCC) highways and transportation division has identified the “severe” impact the development will have on traffic if steps are not taken.
Ultimately, in its current state, the traffic officer has recommended refusal of the scheme, citing that “the proposals do not conform to the agreed [planning authority] standards and do not, therefore, meet the guidelines in respect of highway safety, convenience and sustainability”.
But Quinn Estates chiefs say they have worked in Ashford “for many years” and understand the development’s impact on traffic is the “main concern” for people living in the area.
Responding to the KCC recommendation, Quinn Estates says it has been in talks with the authority about the scheme, which is officially called Conningbrook Park.
In a statement, the company said: “We have been in discussion
with KCC Highways since 2017 regarding the transport assessment, trip rates, site access points and the extent of the submitted model and we are pleased to see that many aspects of our submission are acceptable to the highway authority.
“We have met with the local community on a number of occasions and are well aware that traffic is the main concern for people who live in the area.
“We have worked in Ashford for many years and understand these concerns.
“As such, we are proposing a comprehensive package of mitigation to ensure the development delivers betterment in the future case to the local highway network.
“Our proposal delivers in excess of £4 million of off-site highway improvements to mitigate the impact of the development. These measures are set out in the application transport assessment.”
In its transport assessment, KCC recorded how long it takes to drive from the Conningbrook roundabout to the signalled junction between Magazine Road and the A28 Canterbury Road during the morning and afternoon rush hour.
Highways bosses found it currently takes four minutes and 55 seconds in the morning and three minutes and 54 seconds in the afternoon.
The Quinn Estates spokesman added: “The transport assessment shows that without our development, by 2030 journey times on the A28 will have increased from four minutes 55 seconds to 18 minutes 34 seconds in the morning peak, and three minutes 54 seconds to eight minutes 48 seconds in the afternoon peak.
“Therefore, mitigation is required even if our development did not come forward.
“Our comprehensive package of works will ensure that when compared to the situation in 2030 – without
the development and associated mitigation the savings are substantial – over 13 minutes in the morning peak and circa five minutes in the afternoon peak. “As such, the assertion that the development will cause gridlock is entirely incorrect. “Without the substantial funding and investment in improvements we will prodevelopment vide as part of this it is clear from our assessment that there would be significant congestion and gridlock in Ashford that would not be resolved.”
Quinn Estates has submitted a hybrid application to ABC, asking for outline planning permission for up to 430 homes and full planning permission for 320.
The 81.9-acre agricultural site has been earmarked for development under the council’s Local Plan. As well as homes, a primary school, gym and community centre are also planned for the land.
To view the Conningbrook Park scheme – which also features open parkland next to the railway line – visit www.ashford.gov.uk and search for the 19/00025/AS application.