Media coverage

Our tiny village is being swallowed by 8,400 new homes and a giant solar panel farm

Locals furious as Angela Rayner set to back huge newbuild estate in Kent countryside despite hundreds of objections

We fear Keir Starmer's bulldozer blitz will turn our quiet village into just another suburb if 8,400 new homes are built

Those living in a quiet village say they are terrified of Keir Starmer's housing schemes that might turn the area into a busy suburb after plans for thousands of new homes.

Starmer's plan to solve housing crisis faces first big test

Sir Keir Starmer has unveiled sweeping changes to the planning system that could see councils forced to consider building on green belt land in England.

Kevin McKenna MP revealed as the person who got Highsted Park Called in

A matter of weeks after a photo opportunity with the applicant Mark Quinn and just two days prior to the application being called in by Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner Kevin McKenna MP wrote to Angela Rayner requesting that the larger of the two applications be called in.

Kevin McKenna MP suggests government steps in to stop refusal of 8,400 home estate near Sittingbourne

The decision to approve or refuse a huge new Kent housing development was “ripped away” from the “democratically elected local council” following a request from an MP, it has emerged.

Delusional MP Kevin McKenna shows utter contempt for local democracy

Without any consultation what-so-ever, the Sittingbourne and Sheppey MP wants to dump the vast majority of the boroughs new housing allocation on to the neighbouring constituency of Faversham and Mid-Kent making him by far the ultimate NIMBY.

Helen Whately MP demands answers from Deputy PM on Highsted Park

Helen Whately has written to the Deputy Prime Minister: Angela Rayner asking why she has taken the Highsted Park planning decision away from local elected councillors

In Kent, Labour has a fight on its hands – and a make-or-break test for its housing revolution

If it wants to build 1.5m homes, the government will sometimes need to be brave enough to reject local feeling – as it has done in Swale

Anger and frustration as Government circumvents unanimous rejection of Highsted Park proposals

Councillors are absolutely furious with the government for calling in the Highsted Park planning applications just 3 hours before the planning committee was due to sit down and debate the applications.

Fury as Angela Rayner takes control of Kent ‘garden town’ plan

Residents say Westminster’s seizure of the planning process undermines local democracy

Shock as planning decision is taken out of Councillors' hands.

Green Councillors Rich Lehmann, Alastair Gould and Terry Thompson were devastated to be told a few hours before the planning committee meeting on 7th November, that the planning decision on the enormous development, Highsted Park, South and East of Sittingbourne had been “called-in” by government.

‘Disappointing’: CPRE Kent responds to Highsted Park call-in by government

CPRE Kent and its supporters have waited a long time for the two planning applications comprising the wider Highsted Park proposals, north and south of the A2 close to Sittingbourne, to be reported to Swale Borough Council’s planning committee.

Plans for ‘new town’ near Sittingbourne with 8,400 homes sent to MP Angela Rayner to decide

Plans for a massive “new town” have been sent to the government to decide on, amid fears of “destruction of the countryside”. Highsted Park, with 8,400 homes to the south and east of Sittingbourne, has been in the works for years.

The spectre of Highsted Park returns to haunt us for Halloween

In a yet another attempt to get this monstrous housing scheme off the ground the developer consortium composed of Quinn Estates, the Kent Science Park and local landowners have yet another version of their plans for a vast 50% urban expansion of Sittingbourne up before the planning committee where it has been recommended for refusal.

Highsted Park planning applications found to be unlawful

In a significant development for the hugely controversial Highsted Park proposals which are not part of the councils plans, the two speculative planning applications submitted for the development are currently not lawful as they needed to include an environment statement setting out the significant effects of the proposals on the environment.

Massive housing plans to merge 7 villages with Sittingbourne

A developer consortium composed of the Kent Science Park, local landowners and Quinn Estates have put forward plans for a massive 50% increase of urban Sittingbourne, plus a business park to rival Eurolink in size.

Job losses at Sittingbourne call centre Go Response

Workers at Go Response on the Kent Science Park near Borden have been told the company, which was recently taken over by rival firm Direct Response, will shut up shop on March 31.

Kent Science Park plans to create 8,000 new jobs

This year’s proposals include for a trebling of the size of the existing site, a new business park in Teynham, new motorway junction and Southern Relief Road.

Millions sought for new M2 link in Kent Science Park expansion in Sittingbourne

Plans for a huge extension to Kent Science Park (KSP), the creation of a new junction on the M2 and a southern link road have been revealed.

The largest privately owned network of science and technology parks in the UK has been put up for sale by the Mars Pension Fund.

Mars, along with fund manager LaSalle Investment Management, has put a £95m price tag on the five-strong portfolio in what will be a litmus test for investor interest in the sector.

Expanding science park 'will create thousands of jobs'

An average of around 10 jobs a month will be created over the next 20 years under plans to expand the Kent Science Park.

Kent Science Park in Sittingbourne to reveal 20-year masterplan this weekend which it says will create 4,150 jobs

A business park will reveal a 20-year growth plan this weekend which it hopes will create 4,150 jobs.

'No more relief roads for another 20 years'

THERE will be no major congestion-busting additions to Sittingbourne's road network over the next 10 years, it has been suggested.

Relief road plans lead to clash over congestion

BUILDING the Sittingbourne Southern Relief Road (SSRR) will not necessarily stop congestion in the borough.

Costly M2 link is ‘not the answer’

A SITTINGBOURNE Southern Relief Road (SRR) will not stop traffic congestion increasing in the borough over the next 20 years, according to the newest computerised transport model.

We're not big on massive expansion in our town

A PROTEST march against what campaigners describe as "monstrous expansion plans for the town" attracted more than 100 people.

Protest march over Kent Science Park expansion plan

Campaigners have taken part in a protest march against plans to expand the Kent Science Park in Sittingbourne by more than 100 acres (40 hectares).

Apologise for your 'dirty trick'

A GROUP fighting against plans to expand the Kent Science Park (KSP) is demanding an apology after claiming its name has been smeared by the site's director.

Protest group's march attack on 'monstrous' housing plans

HUNDREDS of people are expected to take part in a protest march against plans to build thousands of new houses and a major road in Sittingbourne.