Highsted Park is a proposed development of around 9,250 homes spanning Kent Science Park, Highsted Valley, Rodmersham, and Bapchild. Covering entirely green-field farm land and sitting outside of the Swale Local Plan (a legally required plan to accommodate house building targets set by central government), the development has been speculatively submitted for planning approval by the developer Quinn Estates.
The official site for the development is HighstedPark.co.uk
Following a survey of the residents of Wormshill & Frinsted, we produced a document that identifies the key concerns residents identified to help individuals formulate their own comments on the applications. This document remains available for download below, but the official planning comments period has now closed. Since the development is likely to go to committee, comments placed even now may however still be considered.
Download “Highsted Park Planning Concerns” Highsted-Park-Concerns.docx – Downloaded 1870 times – 48.41 KBThe broad area of the development is shown in the images below.
Development Overview
Current Status
Two planning applications have been registered for the scheme widely known as Highsted Park by Quinn Estates Limited. The official planning comments deadline was 24th September.
The larger application stretches from the M2 at Milstead/Bredgar/Tunstall to the A2 at Bapchild/Dully round South Sittingbourne/Rodmersham and includes 8,000 dwellings, 84 acres of commercial space around the Kent Science Park and the Southern Relief Road including a new motorway junction. Application Ref: 21/503914/EIOUT
The other application is located between Bapchild and Teynham, is for 1,250 houses, 2.5 acres of commercial space and the completion of the Northern Relief Road. Application Ref: 21/503906/EIOUT
Residents are encourage to review the applications. To do this, search using the application reference at: https://pa.midkent.gov.uk/online-applications/
Each of the Parishes (Bapchild, Rodmersham, Tunstall, Milstead and Bredgar) have responded to the applications and the Five Parishes Group has been providing updates via their Facebook page and website.
Given the sheer volume of documents that have been submitted and the fact that the applications have been submitted during the school holidays, Rodmersham Parish Council will be seeking an extension of time to respond to to the consultations to give it adequate time to read the documents and consult with parishioners.
Below is a more detailed summary of each of the applications:
APPLICATION REF:
21/503914/EIOUT
ADDRESS: APPLICATION TYPE:
Outline application with all matters reserved for the phased development of up to 578.65 hectares of land comprising: up to 8,000 residential dwellings including sheltered/extra care accommodation (Use Class C2 and Use Class C3), – up to 170,000 sq. m/34 hectares of commercial, business and service/employment floorspace (Use Class B2, Use Class B8 and Use Class E), and including up to 2,800 sq m of hotel (Use Class C1) floorspace – mixed use local centre and neighbourhood facilities including commercial, business and employment floorspace (Use Class E), non-residential institutions (Use Class F1) and local community uses (Use Class F2) floorspace, and Public Houses (Sui Generis) – learning institutions including primary and secondary schools (Use Class F1(a)) – open space, green infrastructure, woodland, and community and sports provision (Use Class F2(c)) – highways and infrastructure works including the provision of a new motorway junction to the M2, a Sustainable Movement Corridor (inc. a Sittingbourne Southern Relief Road)’, and new vehicular access points to the existing network – associated groundworks, engineering, utilities, and demolition works.
Land South And East Of Sittingbourne Kent Large Major Other
APPLICATION REF: PROPOSAL:
21/503906/EIOUT
ADDRESS:
Outline application with all matters reserved for the phased development of up to 95.51 hectares of land comprising: demolition and relocation of existing farmyard and workers cottages, up to 1,250 residential dwellings including sheltered/extra care accommodation (Use Class C2 and Use Class C3) – up to 2,200 sq.m/1 hectare of commercial floorspace (Use Class E(g)) – mixed use local centre and neighbourhood facilities including commercial, business and employment floorspace (Use Class E), non-residential institutions (Use Class F1) and local community uses (Use Class F2) floorspace, and Public Houses (Sui Generis) – learning institutions including a primary school (Use Class F1(a)) – open space, green infrastructure, woodland, and community and sports provision (Use Class F2(c)) – highways and infrastructure works including the completion of a Northern Relief Road, Bapchild Section, and new vehicular access points to the existing network – associated groundworks, engineering, utilities, and demolition works.