Volume 1: Sustainability Appraisal of the Maidstone Gypsy, Traveller and Travelling Showpeople Development Plan Document 2023–2040

Strongly disagree

1 Housing. The current proposal is for 20 caravans but there is no indication whether this for touring or static caravans but, either way, the extra buildings required to accompany the caravans means that the development would be excessive and overbearing for the location and surrounding area. Langley Heath is not included in Maidstone Borough Council’s own policy to focus any residential development within rural service centres to large or small villages and should, therefore, be discounted anyway. 2. Transport There is a limited bus service in Langley but no schools or shops and there is little scope to improve the infrastructure so it could not be relied upon for regular commuting and, any development in the proposed location, would put pressure on the primary schools in the neighbouring areas so both these issues would mean an untenable number of cars in Langley Heath. 3. Accessibility There are restrictions in terms of the size and types of vehicles that Green Lane is suitable for and any building work and subsequent positioning of caravans would require heavy plant and machinery in order for the work to go ahead but Green Lane is not suitable as an access road because it is a one track lane and the national speed limit for that type of road for the majority of its length. Green Lane is bordered by mature trees and hedgerow which provide vital habitats for wildlife including bats. 4. Community and crime Langley Heath is not an area with a high crime rate but, equally, it does not have many facilities but a substantial increase and influx of residents and associates could adversely impact on the currently relatively low volume of anti-social behaviour and crime related incidents. 5. Health care facilities The Orchard Surgery at Langley Heath is already operating almost at its maximum capacity and faces being overloaded by other housing development already approved in the surrounding area. The proposed development will put this resource under significant pressure and/or mean that residents will have to go further afield to be able to register with a surgery. 6. Community integration and layout The proposed development would effectively separate the residents of Green Lane from the rest of Langley Heath as it would be markedly different from buildings in that road in particular and the rest of the village in general. The site is directly opposite a row of terraced cottages that date from the late Victorian era so a more modern development would not match the current architecture and can only serve to devalue the cottages. 7. Agricultural land This land has been classified as Grade 2 agricultural land. This grade of land is recognised as the best and most versatile so developing it would be in contravention of policies to retain such land as an agricultural asset. It also borders further agricultural land and only a mature hedge containing native species which provides an important contribution to biodiversity separates the two. 8. Flooding The area surrounding the proposed site is within Flood Risk Zone 2 and surface water runoff is visible in heavy downpours and it drains at and around the proposed entrance. This run off is worse as the field is no longer farmed and would be further increased by hard standing and surfaced roads. 9. Cultural Heritage There are two Grade ll listedbuildings called ‘Ye Old Cottage’ and ‘The Old Farmhouse’ in Green Lane and they in close proximity to the proposed site so, as outlined in point 6 above, a more modern development would not match the current architecture and would only serve to devalue these houses. 10. Maintaining Settlement Separation I wholeheartedly support the Parish Council’s view that it is so important to retain the separate identity of Green Lane and Langley Heath to prevent it merging with and being swallowed up by other developments and conurbation and to retain the green spaces in the area as they are in constant use by local walkers and dog walkers. In light of the above, I believe the site is unsuitable for development for the following reasons:- • the location could not support or sustain this or any other building plans, • accessibility is poor, • there would be a significant increase in the number of vehicles in the area, • there is a lack of facilities within walking distance and no way to improve or add to them, • the high agricultural value of the land, the impact on the established wildlife • it would not be in keeping with the historic buildings nearby and would devalue them and impact on their setting and standing • it would mean that Green Lane would lose its identity