12 October 2021

Report from Swale Borough Councillors

The review of the local plan, which will set out plans for development in the borough up to 2038, has returned to committees this month. At the beginning of 2021 Swale Borough Council carried out a consultation on the local plan (known as a Regulation 19 consultation). A report to the Local Plan Panel which
met on 8 th September summarised the comments received. Two comments might be of particular interest to local residents.

The proposed large development of 3,340 dwellings east of Faversham would require the capacity of Junction 7 of the M2 (Brenley Corner) to be increased, as it is already operating at capacity and experiences regular peak hour congestion. Highways England pointed out that there is no current
improvement scheme to alleviate the known issues. Until proposals are approved, the Council should not rely on government funding for the improvement of the junction to mitigate traffic congestion arising from local plan development.

In connection with the proposed development of 90 houses at Neames Forstal, Natural England commented that allocations in, and adjacent to, the area of outstanding natural beauty should be a last resort and that further consideration should be given to the impact of proposals affecting it – this should include looking at alternative options for higher densities and different development sites elsewhere.

The council has not yet produced any response to the comments submitted, but the Local Plan Panel did recommend to Cabinet a new scheme for developing the local plan. Under this scheme, there will be a Regulation 18 consultation in October or November. This consultation will set out options for development with a preferred option. There will then be a new Regulation 19 consultation early in the New Year.

You can read the full summary of comments submitted and the outline for further consultation on the local plan here.

Alastair Gould (AlastairGould@swale.gov.uk)
Tim Valentine (TimValentine@swale.gov.uk) 07752 191807
Swale Borough Councillors for Boughton & Courtenay.

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