Lidsing Garden Community SPD

Comment

Representation ID: 855

Received: 15/12/2025

Respondent: Simon Fooks

I am responding as a resident of Bredhurst. I am not opposed in principle to development at Lidsing Garden Village; however, I cannot support the Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) in its current form as it fails to address key transport and traffic concerns affecting Bredhurst.

The proposed transport strategy has not adequately considered the impact on roads through Bredhurst. The current proposals risk increasing through-traffic and congestion, particularly if Forge Lane bridge is closed to general traffic without complementary measures. Earlier consultation proposals to close Dunn Street at its junction with Lidsing Road, effectively preventing rat-running and limiting traffic to residents and visitors, were well supported by local residents. This option does not appear in the final SPD and this omission should be addressed, with the Dunn Street closure included as part of the SPD.

The Parish Council has expressed concern that closing Forge Lane bridge alone will divert traffic onto The Street and Dunn Street, worsening conditions in Bredhurst. Resident feedback on this issue appears to have been overlooked.

In addition, the proposed timing of the new M2 Junction 4 modifications is unacceptable. This infrastructure must be delivered at a much earlier stage of the development, ideally in Phase 1, to avoid severe congestion on the local road network.

Finally, the SPD does not include a Construction Traffic Management Plan. Such a plan must be prepared and approved before construction commences, with input from Bredhurst and Boxley Parish Councils, to ensure construction traffic does not adversely affect local residents.

Until these issues are properly addressed, the SPD should not be progressed.


Simon Fooks

Comment noted.
The SPD sets out additional guidance on the approach to transport assessment and mitigation (Chapter 7.3) with further detail provided in the accompanying Transport Annex. More detailed assessment of transport impacts and the design of transport mitigation measures will need to be set out as part of the formulation and consideration of future planning applications.
The SPD takes forward the requirements of Policy LPRSP4(B) of the Local Plan Review which established the necessary scope of infrastructure, which confirms the spur being opening in phase 2 (2033-2038).
Figure 41 at Section D of the SPD replicates the required phasing of development and associated infrastructure.
Infrastructure will be secured through the use of planning conditions and legal agreements, as part of the consideration and determination of future planning applications.
Appendix B of the SPD sets out the anticipated planning application requirements, which includes the need for a 'Construction Management Plan' which will consider issues relating to construction traffic.