Decision details

(Report of Director of Planning, Housing and Environmental Health)

Consideration was given to a petition received from East Malling and Larkfield and West Malling Parish Councils ‘seeking support for an extension to the Green Belt to protect the green fields between East and West Malling and Kings Hill’.

The petition organisers addressed the Cabinet in accordance with the Borough Council’s Petition Scheme, as set out in the Constitution, and expressed concern at any potential reliance on strategic gap policy that was undefined and could weaken the adoption of the Local Plan.   Petitioners felt that an extension of the green belt would strengthen the Borough Council’s position in protecting historic and rural communities.  Concern was also expressed that the expansion of Kings Hill would create an urban sprawl between West Malling, East Malling and Kings Hill. 

Due regard was given to the views of the petition organisers and Local Plan, financial and value money considerations, legal implications and risk and equality impact assessments detailed in the report of the Director of Planning, Housing and Environmental Health.   Whilst Cabinet understood the points raised by the petitioners, it was recognised that potential extensions to the Green Belt boundary required to be led by evidence and any decisions prior to this being made available were likely to be subject to challenge, which presented risks to future adoption of the Local Plan and damage to the reputation of the Borough Council.  However, the Borough Council would continue to explore all options to ensure that settlements retained their own identities.

On the grounds that any decision to formally and firmly support a Green Belt extension at this stage in the plan preparation would be premature and not based on available evidence and would, therefore, likely fail Local Plan examination it was proposed by Cllr Boughton seconded by Cllr Keers and

RESOLVED:  That

(1)             the Petition seeking support for an extension to the Green Belt be received and noted; and

(2)             all policy options continue to be explored to provide protection for the green belt and open land.