Horton Kirby and South Darenth

** Public Enquiry Concerning Gypsy Site Opposite Village Hall **

Further days of this Public Inquiry were held on 31 March and 1, 9 and 20 April 2009 and it has now been concluded.

The Appeal by the gypsy family living opposite the village hall has been turned down by the Planning Inspector after 5 days of public inquiry. The family has been given 12 months from 12 May 2009 to leave the site and restore it to its original condition. In the lengthy response the Inspector took into account fully the circumstances of the family including their human rights but found that they did not override the flooding issues and the great harm being done to the Green Belt. The Inspector concluded that the loss of openness and the considerable impact even this small scale development has is causing serious harm to the green belt and the open space between our 2 villages. On the subject of flooding she stated that the site is undefended from the River Darent which has a history of flooding. She added that caravans would be highly vulnerable and there would be a serious risk to the occupants as there would be no means of escape from the site since Horton Road is also in the flood zone.

In order to review the Local Plan and replace it with a Local Development Framework, it is necessary for Sevenoaks Council to research various background issues and produce studies on these.

In June 2008 a report was produced on Strategic Housing Land Availability. It is intended as a study to identify opportunities for meeting housing need included in the draft South East Plan. It identifies potential housing land but does not make a judgement about whether the sites should be included in the Local Development Framework or whether it should form part of the 5 year supply required under the emerging system.

There is only one site identified within the Parish and this can be seen on page 199 of the Identified Sites Assessment.

In April 2008 a report was produced on Strategic Flood Assessment which has a detailed map showing the risk within our parish.

SE/08/00275/FUL
PLOT 4 GRAZING LAND SOUTH OF VIADUCT TERRACE HORTON ROAD SOUTH DARENTH
USE OF LAND AS A PRIVATE GYPSY CARAVAN SITE FOR A SINGLE FAMILY
The Parish Council was strongly opposed to this development and its full response to the Sevenoaks District Council, as planning authority, can be read here.

The application for the gypsy encampment opposite the village hall was refused planning permission on 31 March 2008.

The following information has been received:

This application is for the retention of the gypsy encampment on the grazing land just outside South Darenth. Officers are in agreement with the Parish Council and have determined the application. It has been refused for the following reasons,

The land lies within the Metropolitan Green Belt where strict policies of restraint apply. The proposal would be inappropriate development harmful to the maintenance of the character of the Green Belt and to its openness. No very special circumstances have been put forward which outweigh the harm caused. This is contrary to Policy SS2 of the Kent Structure Plan, Planning Policy Guidance Note 2.

The proposal would be harmful to the maintenance of the character of the Green Belt and countryside as it involves new development outside the confines of a town or village. This is contrary to PPG2 and Policy EN1 of the Kent and Medway Structure Plan

The land lies within a Special Landscape Area. The proposal fails to give long-term protection to the landscape and would detract from the character and appearance of the area. This conflicts with policy EN5 of the Kent Structure Plan and Policy EN7 and the Countryside Character SPG of the Sevenoaks District Local Plan.

The site is at significant and unacceptable risk of flooding falling within Flood Zones 2 and 3. The occupants would be highly vulnerable as the accommodation would be a mobile home and touring caravan. The proposal could also increase the risk of flooding else where. This is contrary to PPS1 and PPS25 and Policy NR10 of the Kent and Medway Structure Plan.

In the absence of a site investigation the applicant has failed to demonstrate that the site is safe for residential occupation given the risk of contaminated land. This is contrary to PPG23, Policy NR10 of the Sevenoaks District Local Plan and Policy NR6 of the Kent and Medway Structure Plan.

The applicant has failed to demonstrate that the proposed access is acceptable to both visual amenity and highway safety. This is contrary to Policy EN1 of the Sevenoaks District Local Plan.

Our District Councillors, Stephen Arnold and Philip McGarvey have confirmed with Disrtict Council officers that they are in agreement for enforcement proceedings requiring the applicant and his family to leave the land and return the land to grazing pasture to start.

Sevenoaks District Council has now approved the revised application made by Fairview New Homes.

Planning permission has been granted for 210 dwellings on the Paper Mill site in the centre of South Darenth. On November 7th a 14 page document granting permission was sent to Fairview New Homes by Sevenoaks District Council detailing 66 conditions and nine informatives attached to the permission. Lots of these relate to details still to be approved including materials, landscaping, lighting, and river management as well as requirements of how the site will be managed during the building process.

This is good news for those who want to see the site developed and those who would like to buy property on the site, both normal and affordable. The Parish Council has been informed of how the process for the affordable units will be dealt with. There will be 14 units available for rent which will be administered by West Kent. These will not be available until after March 2008 and applicants must be on the Sevenoaks District Housing Register. Allocation will be made dependent on need, is points-based and local villagers will not get priority.

28 units will be shared ownership properties for first time buyers (some will be for key workers) administered by Moat Housing. These will not be ready until late 2008. Whilst the homes are not exclusively for residents of the parish, Moat will try to give priority to local people when it comes to allocations.