Heathlands Garden Settlement SPD

Comment

Representation ID: 585

Received: 15/12/2025

Respondent: EGERTON PARISH COUNCIL

Make reference to/allowance for parents choosing to send their children to other schools in the area as Kent still has selective schools and Ofsted assessments are also factors. It does not follow that all children in Heathlands will go to schools in Heathlands.

Comment noted.
The SPD sets out policies to ensure that the development includes a full range of supporting infrastructure, including news schools.
The SPD does not change wider aspects such as admissions policies or parental choice in relation to where an individual child may be educated.

Comment

Representation ID: 586

Received: 15/12/2025

Respondent: EGERTON PARISH COUNCIL

Include data on school travel, take up of schools within a mile of home address and schools further than 1 mile; KCC rules on transport to schools and include data on take up of places in grammar, comprehensive or private schools.

Comment noted.
The SPD sets out policies to ensure that the development includes a full range of supporting infrastructure, including new schools.
The delivery of appropriate local facilities will be a matter that future developers and planning applications will need to address through further engagement with Kent County Council.

Comment

Representation ID: 587

Received: 15/12/2025

Respondent: EGERTON PARISH COUNCIL

This is speculative - what is the basis for such an assessment of commercial need? And if restricted because of proximity to housing it will be further limited. Has an up-to date survey been conducted on commercial premises under-occupied or lack of capacity in Ashford and Maidstone boroughs?

Comment noted.
The SPD takes forward the requirements of Policy LPRSP4(A) of the Local Plan Review which established that the development should aim to provide for as close to 5,000 new jobs as feasible and viable
Future planning applications will need to consider and address all issues and requirements.

Comment

Representation ID: 588

Received: 15/12/2025

Respondent: EGERTON PARISH COUNCIL

Include an up to date appraisal of type of commerce in need of premises within the boroughs of Maidstone and Ashford.

Comment noted.
Section 6.10 sets out guidelines and principles for employment, and the types of new employment space to be provided.
Future planning applications will need to consider and address all issues and requirements.
Appendix C of the SPD sets out the anticipated planning application requirements which includes the need for an ""Employment & Economic Strategy"" to establish a strategy to consider commercial opportunities and business sectors in more detail.

Object

Representation ID: 589

Received: 15/12/2025

Respondent: EGERTON PARISH COUNCIL

A Sustainability Appraisal 2020 said that research concluded that Garden Settlements can become car dependent, create more traffic for local roads. So it is likely that Garden Settlements will provide massive investment into road capacity compared to funding cycleways and public transport. thereby increasing the likelihood of travel by car and traffic congestion. Mixed significant positive and significant negative effects with uncertainty are expected. A later Appraisal Adoption statement March 2024 did not mention this. Nothing has changed between the first sustainability appraisal and the most recent one. What is MBC’s justification for ignoring points made in 2020?

Objection noted.
The overall strategy and approach to future development across the Maidstone Borough area has been established by the Local Plan Review which was adopted by the Council in March 2024, following a robust process of debate and scrutiny via an independent ‘Examination in Public’.
The Local Plan Review was subject to assessment via a Sustainability Appraisal, and the proposals set out in the SPD accord with those that were considered via that process.
The SPD takes forward the requirements of Policy LPRSP4(A) of the Local Plan Review which established the necessary scope of infrastructure, and Section 6.11 sets out principles and guidelines including relating to promoting active travel, assessing and mitigating impacts across the local and strategic road layout.

Comment

Representation ID: 590

Received: 15/12/2025

Respondent: EGERTON PARISH COUNCIL

Enabling existing communities to use local roads into Heathlands means these roads could be used by to people living in Heathlands to access the countryside. Please clarify. These roads are narrow and dangerous, especially with more traffic use. One road over the M20 and HS1 is single track, owned by National Roads and seems to lead to a new Country Park. Congestion will result - even if traffic lights were introduced where will holding bays be created? Who will fund road widening? For creation and maintenance of the new park, heavy vehicles will need to use the narrow road network.

Comment noted.
The SPD sets out principles and guidelines relating to 'Movement & Connectivity' (6.11) to promote active travel and to establish sustainable travel principles from the outset.
Principles and guidelines also require detailed assessments of impacts on the local and strategic road network and direct reference to minimise impacts on local lanes.
The detailed design of transport mitigation measures will need to be set out as part of the formulation and consideration of future planning applications.

Object

Representation ID: 591

Received: 15/12/2025

Respondent: EGERTON PARISH COUNCIL

This section is not robust enough. New developments are in the strongest position to use all types of green energy generation, and strong energy conservation methods. It should not be "Wherever feasible". Tree planting for carbon capture is vital, plus tree maintenance. There must be a cross-reference to the "green" section.
For energy conservation reasons and for avoiding light pollution it is worrying there is no reference to lighting. Lenham Heath is a very rural area and there is currently little light pollution because there is no street lighting, as is the norm in rural areas. This must be addressed.

Objection noted.
As set out in Chapter 6.2 of the SPD in relation to Green Infrastructure, new planting will be required throughout the site as part of wider measures to mitigate visual impacts.
Officers agree that an additional principle should be added to the SPD to ensure that the issue of lighting will be robustly considered and any adverse impacts mitigated.
The specific nature of energy conservation measures will need to be flexible to reflect potential changing technology and user behaviour over time, and will need to be set out as part of the formulation and consideration of future planning applications.

Comment

Representation ID: 592

Received: 15/12/2025

Respondent: EGERTON PARISH COUNCIL

Add in specific conditions for energy conservation and green energy including vehicle charging points and for lighting to avoid/minimise light pollution to protect the dark skies. This section should also mention the need to protect wildlife in this rural area. There is no point in creating parks and planting trees if nocturnal wildlife cannot thrive in it due to human disturbance and further adverse environmental impacts such as light pollution.

Comment noted.
The SPD does not go into the detail of all potential measures and solutions enabling flexibility for proposals to reflect advances in technologies and changes in user behaviours over time.
The provision of charging points is referenced in the SPD, and will need to align with the wider transition to the use of electric vehicles over time.
Officers agree that an additional principle should be added to the SPD to ensure that the issue of lighting will be robustly considered and any adverse impacts mitigated.

Object

Representation ID: 593

Received: 15/12/2025

Respondent: EGERTON PARISH COUNCIL

Comment
Q30: Do you agree with the principles & guidance for the preparation of ‘Design Codes’? : Heathlands Garden Settlement SPD
Last edited: 15/12/2025, 01:22

Respondent: EGERTON PARISH COUNCIL

Representation Summary:
"Design code" is an odd description for something developer-led. Developers should submit draft design statements to the planning authority to consider enhancing and converting into design codes to be met by developers. Existing parish design statements and neighbourhood plans should be relied upon.
It is helpful that plans should be submitted by developers in the context of a full Masterplan otherwise piecemeal development results in lack of cohesion.

Comment noted.
Design Codes are recognised by national policy and guidance as an important aspect to improve the design quality of proposals. Officers consider the approach to be fully in line with this national position.

Comment

Representation ID: 594

Received: 15/12/2025

Respondent: EGERTON PARISH COUNCIL

The Local planning authority to approve developers' draft design statements and make them design codes for developers to meet.

Neighbourhood plans and parish design statements should be taken into account.

Clarify who is responsible for creating a Masterplan.

Comment noted.
The principles set out at Chapter 10.1 require a site wide Strategic Masterplan and a Strategic Design Code must be submitted as part of the future outline planning application.
Chapter 9.3 of the SPD sets out guidance around pre-application working including the need to engage with the local community and relevant local stakeholders to inform the preparation of planning applications and all related supporting information including masterplans and design codes.