'THIS IS KENT, DON'T SPEND IT ALL AT ONCE'

Kent Green Party has sent in its largest submission to a Government consultation ever, opposing the Government’s suggested changes to the Planning system(1). Steve Dawe comments:

“The Government repeatedly claims that its Planning proposals do not threaten Green Belts, and will lead to more housing. But Greg Clark MP’s comment that developers will be able to build ‘what they like, where they like and when they like’ subject only to planning ‘guidelines’ contradicts Government assurances that valuable landscapes will be protected, in Kent and elsewhere(2). Also, developers already have planning permission for over 330,000 homes on greenfield sites(3). If the Government was serious about housing provision, they would not have cut affordable housing spending by 60% and there would not be a massive backlog of housing demand in Kent and Medway (4). And one estimate of brownfield land in the country suggests we could build 3 million homes on brownfield sites(5).

“Kent Green Party wants a clear commitment from Government that it will keep London out of Kent. It wants a more restrictive planning system that forces developers to use brownfield sites, and to deliver higher quality homes. We should be holding land in trust for future generations (6). We say to the Government: ‘This is Kent, don’t spend it all once.’.”

“The Government consultation is open until 17^th October. Comments should be sent to: planningframework@communities.gsi.gov.uk (7).

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FURTHER INFORMATION: Steve Dawe, West Kent Green Party, on 01732 355185 or 07747 036192. Contact address as above. Promoted by H.Dawe and published by Kent Green Party, both at 27 Audley Avenue, Tonbridge, Kent TN9 1XF.

Notes:

1. The 32 page Kent Green Party submission can be seen at www.kentgreenparty.org under Publications.

2. Greg Clark’s comment can be considered to fetter the discretion of the Secretary of State and compromise the right of refusal on the part of local planning authorities. SEE: http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2011/aug/21/greenbelt-threat-permissive-planning-laws This is a basis for judicial review of any subsequent legislation or proposals developed if these extremely poor Planning changes are put through Parliament.

3. http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/sep/13/planning-reform-recipe-civil-war ;

4. About 36,000 households are on council waiting lists in Kent and Medway. This does not include figures for those in overcrowded households or demand from single people who do not register for social housing as their chances of getting access are low. The Governmen is also to cut social housing obligations on developers in new housing developments: Observer 2^nd October 2011.

5. http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/sep/13/planning-reform-recipe-civil-war ;

6. For biodiversity, agriculture, amenity and tourism.

7. The Government’s consultation document can be seen at: http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/planningandbuilding/pdf/1951811.pdf

PRplanningsub4102011

Tories to cut social housing obligation on developers in new housing developments Observer 2^nd October 2011