Mass development of Swale’s countryside back on agenda?
01 Feb 2011
It is exactly seven years since Kent Science Park announced its monstrous plans for a 400% expansion, which would result in the building of thousands of houses and a major road linking the M2 Motorway with the A2 east of Bapchild. At a meeting in June 2008 James Speck, site manager of the Kent Science Park, gave an assurance that KSP was no longer interested in large scale expansion of the Park, instead KSP would concentrate on limited and focused development over the next five years, none of which has subsequently materialised.
However, the large scale expansion plans have not gone away – they have again resurfaced in Swale Borough Council’s Core Strategy document, supported whole heartedly by Kent Science Park’s management.
Kent Science Park however have remained guarded and silent about the use of housing to facilitate the large scale expansion programme which continues to rely on the provision of a major road link. However, KSP would appear to have no problem with the housing being promoted indirectly by other parties including Swale Borough Council.
Now the housing proposals have remerged as part of Swale Borough Council’s Core Strategy with the only difference being the possible locations of the 5,000 houses. Bapchild, Tonge, Teynham, Iwade, Minister, Halfway and Sittingbourne have all been identified as possible options.
Worryingly Swale Borough Council officers have discussed tariffs or Developer’s Contributions levied on other new developments which could be served or enabled by the southern relief road and other non Science Park development in the vicinity of the Kent Science Park.
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