Gypsy, Traveller and Travelling Showpeople Development Plan Document

Disagree

Please see response to the above consultation from Broomfield and Kingswood Parish Council who wish to object to the siting of a development along Chartway Street/Pitt Road. C4S-019 – see map below. Formal Objection to Proposed Traveller Site Expansion Proposal: Development of 58 additional traveller pitches on a site within an area already containing approximately 35 existing pitches Introduction We wish to formally object to the above for the development of 58 additional traveller pitches. The proposed expansion would result in an excessive concentration of traveller accommodation within a single locality and is contrary to both national and local planning policy. The proposal would place disproportionate pressure on local infrastructure, harm highway safety, undermine community cohesion, and conflict with Maidstone Borough Council’s adopted and emerging spatial strategy for traveller site provision. Grounds for Objection 1. Overconcentration of Traveller Sites The proposal would introduce 58 additional pitches into an area that already accommodates approximately 35 traveller pitches, resulting in an unacceptably high concentration of sites within one locality. The National Planning Policy for Traveller Sites (PPTS) seeks to ensure the fair and equitable distribution of traveller sites across local authority areas and explicitly cautions against developments that place a disproportionate burden on a single community. The scale of this proposal would undermine community cohesion and is inconsistent with the PPTS requirement for balanced and sustainable provision. 2. Pressure on Local Infrastructure and Services The cumulative impact of the existing and proposed pitches would place significant strain on local infrastructure, including: Schools and early-years provision Healthcare services Utilities and drainage networks There is no clear evidence that existing services have sufficient capacity to accommodate this level of growth. Planning policy requires that new development be supported by adequate and deliverable infrastructure, which has not been satisfactorily demonstrated in this case. 3. Highway Safety and Traffic Impact The local road network is unsuited to the level of traffic likely to be generated by a development of this scale. Traveller sites typically involve: Increased vehicle movements Larger vehicles, including caravans and service vehicles These factors raise serious concerns regarding congestion, road safety, and the suitability of site access arrangements. National planning policy requires that developments provide safe and suitable access for all users, a requirement that has not been adequately addressed. 4. Environmental Impact and Residential Amenity The proposal raises concerns regarding: Increased noise and light pollution Loss of open space and rural character Potential harm to biodiversity corridors and wildlife habitats The PPTS requires that traveller sites protect local amenity and the environment. The cumulative environmental impacts associated with this proposal would be detrimental to the character and quality of the area. 5. Conflict with Maidstone Local Plan and Traveller DPD Maidstone Borough Council’s Gypsy, Traveller and Travelling Showpeople Development Plan Document (DPD) sets out a clear spatial strategy aimed at meeting accommodation needs through a distributed and balanced approach across the borough. While the Local Plan identifies a need for additional traveller pitches, it does not support their concentration in a single location. The proposed development directly conflicts with the DPD’s objectives, which are informed by public consultation and updated evidence and seek to promote: Sustainable site allocation Integrated coexistence with settled communities Avoidance of overconcentration 6. Landscape Impact and Character of the Area The scale of the proposed development is disproportionate to the rural or semi-rural character of the surrounding area. Policy C of the PPTS requires that traveller sites in rural areas respect the scale and character of their surroundings. This proposal fails to do so and would result in unacceptable visual and landscape harm. 7. Land Suitability and Safety Constraints If the site is subject to flood risk, land contamination, or other physical constraints, this represents a material planning objection. Development on unsuitable or hazardous land would be contrary to national planning policy and good planning practice. Additional Context: Maidstone Traveller Site Provision Maidstone Borough Council has demonstrated a proactive and balanced approach to traveller accommodation through: Plans for a new 15-pitch public traveller site with dedicated amenity blocks Site selection criteria prioritising proximity to schools, healthcare, and village infrastructure Recognition of cultural needs, including paddock space for horses A spatial strategy that distributes pitches across multiple locations, including Boughton Monchelsea, Coxheath, Lenham, Marden, Staplehurst, Stockbury, and others This approach explicitly seeks to avoid overconcentration and to balance traveller accommodation needs with the protection of local communities and the environment. Site-Specific Considerations: C4S-019 Site C4S-019 is identified within the DPD as a potential allocation intended to contribute to borough-wide provision, not to justify excessive concentration in one area. There are already 10 traveller pitches immediately to the east of the site, exacerbating concerns about cumulative impact and overdevelopment. A high-pressure gas distribution main runs along the western boundary of C4S-019, presenting significant safety and development constraints. National planning policy and health and safety guidance require appropriate stand off distances from hazardous infrastructure, which appear compromised by this proposal. These factors further strengthen objections relating to safety, land suitability, and conflict with the council’s carefully considered spatial strategy. Conclusion In conclusion, this proposal fails to comply with both national and local planning policy. It represents an excessive and unjustified concentration of traveller pitches, places undue strain on local infrastructure and services, poses highway and safety risks, and would cause unacceptable harm to the character and amenity of the area. The Maidstone Local Plan and the Gypsy, Traveller and Travelling Showpeople DPD clearly promote a balanced, sustainable, and distributed approach to traveller site provision. This application fundamentally conflicts with those objectives. For these reasons, we respectfully request that the development for Chartway Street/Pitt Road be refused.