Green Party councillors John Wing and Jim Martin have expressed serious concerns about the Otterpool development during a detailed examination of an outline planning application that proposed the construction of up to 8,500 homes, commercial development and associated infrastructure.
Despite objections from Jim, John, other opposition councillors, and many local residents, the Conservative-controlled planning committee approved the application on Tuesday 4th April.
Otterpool Park LLP, the company behind the planning application, is a development company set up by Conservative-led Folkestone & Hythe District Council.
The garden town settlement is a plan devised by the Conservatives to meet local housing needs and to provide an income for the council in future years. We recognised in 2019 that we would be unable to stop the proposed settlement and decided instead to focus our time in opposition on making every attempt to create a sustainable plan for Otterpool. It is perhaps inevitable that the Conservative-controlled planning committee adopted the planning officers’ recommendation to grant permission.
We strongly believe that the Otterpool development should be designed in a way that minimises its environmental impact and maximises community benefits. Our goal has always been to promote a sustainable approach to planning that prioritises public transport, cycling, and walking, and ensures that new homes are built to the highest environmental standards.
In a strange and inconsistent twist, Folkestone & Hythe MP Damian Collins appeared at the meeting to tell councillors about the virtues of the project, describing it as a “nationally important” scheme. This is in contrast with his absolute reluctance to engage with residents who expressed concerns about Princes Parade, reportedly telling them the matter is for the planning department to determine without influence from him.
The proposed development has been a controversial issue locally since 2016 when the council purchased farmland around Otterpool Manor, with many residents expressing concerns about the impact of the development on the environment and the local economy.
Note: An earlier version of this blog post inferred that the council purchased Folkestone Racecourse in 2016. The council purchased farmland around Otterpool Manor in 2016, and the racecourse in 2020.
I’m worried about how this development will affect the local community. Our roads are already heavily congested, and we can’t afford to add more traffic. Plus, the Kent Downs AONB have raised objections, and it’s disappointing that the planners have mostly ignored them. We need to take a more collaborative approach to planning that takes into account the views of local residents and environmental groups.
I’m committed to ensuring that this development is sustainable and environmentally responsible. We need to ensure that there is a net-zero commitment and that adequate traffic mitigation plans are put in place. We also need to ensure that the development is designed in a way that maximises community benefits and minimises environmental impacts. As Green Party councillors, we are best placed to ensure that any development at Otterpool is delivered in the most sustainable way possible.
