Update: This has now been put forward as a development site in the 2024 local plan.
Following the public meeting and further responses by local residents, Sturry Parish Council have now submitted their comments to Canterbury City Council planning department. You can read these below. After that, there is a lot of background to the proposal. It is not on the January committee meeting agenda, and we will let you know when the City Council will be ruling on the application by Gladman.
There are four pages to read, and you can navigate through them by hovering your cursor over the bottom of the document.
CA_23_01743-STURRY_PARISH-3490158Background
Development meeting hosted by Sturry PC.
There was an open meeting on Tuesday 21 November at Sturry Primary School.
This was organised by the planning committee of Sturry Parish council. All were welcome to attend. It consisted of a display by representatives of Gladman, the would-be developers. Visitors asked them questions, spoke to councillors and members of Sabora
It was not a chaired, public meeting with questions from the floor that Sabora had hoped for.
The outline proposal
We will do our best to keep you updated on the progress of this.
The development proposals can be seen in detail on the Canterbury City Council Website
Here is a direct link:
Public comments have now closed, but you can let the parish council know your concerns and they will include them in the report that they will be sending, as statutory consultees.
You will find 33 documents in support of the application, all supplied by the developers. Naturally, there will be nothing there to mitigate against the plan. There are over 60 comments against the plan from local residents.
If you are objecting we also ask that you send a copy to Sabora, info@sabora.co.uk
or use our contact form. This way we can ensure no comments get ‘lost’ along the way
It is worth noting that the application is an outline one, and as stated, all matter are reserved except the access plan. Which means they can change their mind about the layout, facilities, etcetera.
A previous application for 140 homes on this site was turned down, and Gladman appealed. the appeal was dismissed. You can read the inspector’s report here.
8.17_3216104_-_Popes_Lane__Sturry_-_03.09.20191.0The report has a great deal of information about the impact of development in Sturry and Broad Oak. Tap on the image and you can scroll through the pages.
The only definite thing in the application is the access road
As far as we are aware, the site has not yet been included in the local plan, due to be revealed in December this year. There is, however, a timetable published by the planning department, and you can see this below.
Gladman Developments are owned by Barratt Developments PLC. They own three consumer brands: Barratt Homes, David Wilson Homes and Barratt London.
There has already been strong local objections to this proposal with 59 letters of objection (at time of writing) on the CCC planning portal. This one, from resident Phil Mayo, is typical of the reactions received
NEW BUILD HOUSES IN THE POPES LANE FIELD
Our local community in which I am honoured to live became my adopted home after leaving service with HM Forces. A keen wildlife enthusiast with a competent level of knowledge of nature’s plants and creatures which can be found along our pathways and walks. As a matter of personal interest, I take stock of species of interest when encountered, and I am astonished at the demise of the wildlife and birds, most possibly caused by the consequence of local building projects at Bullockstone and Hersdon. The target field for development has a very special attraction for local families and pet owners seeking escape from their homes. This field provides space where young and old people meet while passing along the hedgerows and woodland. The field provides seasonal crops which add further magnificence to the panorama. It is also one of the rare and beautiful views available to the residents and it goes a long way to remind us that we are lucky to live in a most beautiful part of Kents’ “Garden of England”, albeit our precious land is becoming sparser and less desirable as each year passes.
WATER SUPPLY AND EFFLUENT WASTE MANAGEMENT
A major issue I have is the high demand on freshwater resources and the limited amount of water reserves available for distribution. The inability of the Water Board to effectively cope with the high quantities of effluent from the local population is a major problem which has affected beaches and health at our many local coastal attractions. No further housing should be sanctioned in Sturry until water supplies and sewerage waste disposal standards are raised to the highest level, ultimately with no overflow spillage ever being flushed into the sea.
ROADS
Popes Lane and Hawe Lane are in effect, single driving lane roads as one side has cars and trucks parked along most of the accommodated area. The road is highly used by a variety of vehicles including tractors often with trailers or agricultural implements attached and there are frequent minor accidents. The road is in moderate condition but is just too narrow and has many dangerous potholes particularly around the woodland areas.
Entering or exiting a vehicle from the nearside of parked vehicles is dangerous because the 20 M.P.H. zone has no traffic supervision and is frequently ignored by road users. Loading and unloading infants and disabled passengers into and from a vehicle can be an astonishingly dangerous experience not only for passengers but also oncoming vehicle drivers. The road requires considerable widening and “if” building is to be approved, careful consideration must be given to the location of the planned roundabout. The current planning application does not provide for an acceptable position by residents.
Traffic flow from Hoath Road into Hawe Lane will substantially increase with traffic cutting through to meet Broad Oak, Herne Bay and to Canterbury destinations.
LOCAL SERVICES
The demand on local schools and GP services are already overstretched with no provision for an increase in the provision of any essential services.
AIR QUALITY
The increase in local traffic will further congest movement in and around existing housing access roads, bring higher levels of pollution and lessen air quality.
NATURAL RESOURCES
Most importantly the Popes Lane field serves as a physical border between an area of natural interest and home to some of the UKs most precious insects, reptiles, mammals, and birds who assemble here to rest and feed before and after migration. Current building trends in Canterbury districts are without doubt damaging beyond repair the life chances of our precious natural world. Without these our own existence is at risk. Our local fields provide an abundance of food for market and could continue to serve our community by allocations for allotment plots. An alternative would be to provide community sports and social facilities with provision for suitable entertainment and training facilities to grow community relationships. Any spare ground should be allocated as decorative community common parkland for recreation by everyone in the area.
I stand in strong opposition to the building of homes on the Popes Lane field.