Heathlands Garden Settlement SPD

Comment

Representation ID: 414

Received: 12/12/2025

Respondent: Doddington Parish Council

Key Infrastructure
There is a lack of commitment to the funding for key infrastructure. We note that this will be dealt
with by the outline planning application. It is most unhelpful for developers to consistently assert that
key aspects will be dealt with “down the line”. Doddington Parish Council has experience of this with
another major development in Swale and it is simply not good enough for S.106, 278 to be mentioned
without even a skeleton argument being presented.
There is insufficient information about the railway station, its provision and operating costs.

Comment noted.
The SPD takes forward the requirements of Policy LPRSP4(A) of the Local Plan Review which established the necessary scope of infrastructure.
Figure 19 at Section D of the SPD replicates the required phasing of development and associated infrastructure.
The detailed design of transport mitigation measures will need to be set out as part of the formulation and consideration of future planning applications.
Infrastructure will be secured through the use of planning conditions and legal agreements, as part of the consideration and determination of future planning applications.

Comment

Representation ID: 415

Received: 12/12/2025

Respondent: Doddington Parish Council

Housing Density
We strongly agree with and adopt the comments made by Lenham Parish Council about the planned
density of housing. This is inconsistent with policy LPRHOU5 and this appears to have been caused by
constraints placed upon the use of some of the identified land.

Comment noted.
The SPD takes forward policies of the Local Plan Review including requirement of Policy LPRHOU5 to optimise density and ensure the most effective use of land, taking into account the local character and context across the site and wider approach to masterplanning as a whole. The SPD sets out different density ranges for different parts of the site and shows how the site can meet the minimum policy requirement of 40 dwellings per hectare as set out in the Local Plan Review.

Comment

Representation ID: 416

Received: 12/12/2025

Respondent: Doddington Parish Council

Waste water treatment
The water treatment issue remains unqualified, certainly until phase 2, by which time there is the
potential that over 1400 homes could have waste removed by tanker. Properties in Doddington are
not connected to the sewer system. Every resident knows the issues associated with waste water tanks
and the cost of removal by tanker. The proposal, as it stands, is completely unacceptable; on
environmental grounds with the volume of lorry movements and on practical grounds as any waste
removal contractor will confirm that the existing waste water disposal sites in Kent are close to
collapse.

Comment noted.
The SPD takes forward the requirements of Policy LPRSP4(A) of the Local Plan Review which established the necessary scope of infrastructure for the Heathlands site, including the need for new/improved wastewater treatment as part of Phase 1, as set out in Figure 19.
The SPD sets out guidelines and principles to require that wastewater treatment facilities must be appropriately located, having particular regard to the protection of amenity of neighbouring uses including housing so as to not negatively impact on new or existing residential properties, including ensuring appropriate buffers and other mitigation is put in place. The requirements aims to protect all residents and properties and avoid negative impacts.