Views are being sought on controversial plans for a 2,000-home garden village in the Kent countryside.
The proposal would see a new community built around the hamlet of Lidsing, which lies to the north of the M2 motorway between Maidstone and Medway.
As part of ongoing consultations over the proposed scheme, which has been included in the Maidstone Borough Council (MBC) Local Plan Review, two drop-in sessions are being staged for residents and businesses to share their opinions.
They will be held at Blacksmith’s Barn in Bredhurst on March 6 from 3pm to 9pm, and on March 10 between 11am and 1pm.
Bredhurst Parish Council (BPC) took its fight against the council’s plans all the way to the High Court but in September a judge refused permission for the council to bring a claim for statutory review of the adoption of the Maidstone Local Plan Review.
MBC says the new garden village, which would be completed by 2042, will provide 2,000 homes – of which 40% would be classed as “affordable” – as well as 2,000 jobs, a new primary school and a medical centre.
Cllr Stuart Jeffery, the leader of the council, said: “Anyone interested in the development of the new Lidsing garden settlement is invited to take part in these community voice sessions.
“The council is starting to prepare a supplementary planning document for Lidsing, which will be informed by the contributions from local people, businesses and organisations to help shape the future expectations for the site.
“These sessions are designed for people to drop in and stay for as long or as little as they wish.
“We are encouraging anyone interested in the future of the local area to come along and help guide the future development.”
The Lidsing proposal is one of three major housing schemes identified by MBC, the others being the 5,000-home Healthlands garden village at Lenham Heath and the 1,300-home redevelopment of Invicta Park Barracks at Springfield in Maidstone.
BPC’s legal challenge was largely funded by donations made by villagers, with a fighting fund reaching almost £100,000.
Speaking after September’s court ruling, the council’s chairman Vanessa Jones said: “I’m bitterly disappointed, but I know that I and Bredhurst Parish Council could not have done any more than we did.
“We are hugely grateful to the thousands of supporters who have stood by us and who have donated so generously.”
#Maidstone #Borough #Council #stage #consultation #events #plans #Lidsing #garden #village
Leave a Reply