Highsted Park Public Inquiry scheduled to start next Tuesday

With the Highsted Park Public Inquiry scheduled to start next Tuesday 11th March, it is more important than ever to share our feelings about the proposed Highsted Park development, one that promises to blight our views, negatively impact the environment for future generations, and create unsustainable impacts on already over-stretched services and resources.

The Five Parishes Group has existed for 20 years, providing a centralised, uniform voice for both residents and the parish councils of Bapchild, Bredgar, Milstead, Rodmersham, Tunstall and Wormshill who oppose the Highsted Park scheme.

Already this year we have assembled a professional team to assist the group fighting the Highsted Park applications.  Jointly with the Teynham & Highsted Action Group. we’ve appointed Dr Nicholas Doggett as Heritage consultant and Simon Bell  as Barrister, from The Barrister Group.  In addition, the Five Parishes Group are covering a broader number of subjects and have also appointed professionals including Continuum to act as Viability experts.  



This professional work costs money. Late last year we asked or donations to help fund these experts. To date we have raised over £37,000, a great start to our target of £95,000.

Thank you to everyone who has already donated, and please take time to think about how YOU can help us even more. We have good facts, feedback and points of view to share, but we can only appoint experts to support us when we have the funds un place.  Whatever you can afford, please do donate to our campaign.

What’s Next?

The inquiry starts on Tuesday 11th March.  The first day will comprise opening statements and start the first tranche of evidence covering Landscapes, Ecology, Heritage, Public Rights of Way (PRoWs).

During the inquiry, we plan to regularly update this website with the headlines for what is covered. If you prefer an even closer view we’ll soon share a link where the enquiry can be viewed live, from your own home or place of work.

We expect the inquiry will last some months and we will be supporting our residents and reporting back every step of the way.

Highsted Park - a brief overview of the proposal

1. The application consists of two developments:

• Highsted Park North, surrounding Bapchild, for 1,250 homes
• Highsted Park South, around Rodmersham and HIghsted Valley, for 7,150 homes.

• a Northern Relief Raid through the countryside park at Bapchild and Tonge
• a southern bypass Road via Bapchild, Rodmersham, Tunstall and close to Bredgar and Milstead
• The construction of a new Junction on the M2, located within the Kent Downs National Landscape