Government Approves Housing Project in Kent’s High Weald National Landscape

A contentious housing development, previously rejected by the Conservative government, has now received approval from the current administration. This decision has led to concerns among campaigners, who express fears that the location will be “lost forever under concrete”. Last year, the previous government had rejected proposals for 165 residences near Cranbrook, Kent, citing their “generic and suburban” nature. However, following a successful High Court challenge against that refusal, the current Labour administration has now sanctioned the project. According to a spokesperson from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, the approval of the plan aligns “in line with the recommendation of the independent Planning Inspector”. The Local Democracy Reporting Service reports that 40 per cent of the planned homes are designated as affordable, equally divided between shared ownership and affordable rent options. The Berkeley Homes project had initially received approval from Tunbridge Wells Borough Council in 2021. Subsequently, it was called in by the then Secretary of State, Robert Jenrick, and permission was later denied by the then Housing Secretary, Michael Gove. Official documents indicate that Mr Gove considered the proposals to be “of a generic suburban nature which does not reproduce the constituent elements of local settlements”. The location of the development is situated within the High Weald National Landscape, an area formerly designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Guy Dagger, a local campaigner residing in the vicinity and an opponent of the plans, described the decision as “disappointing on many levels”. He further stated, “Sadly it will now be lost forever under concrete and a precedent is set making other similarly protected landscapes vulnerable.” A spokesperson for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government commented: “The decision was made by Minister of State for Housing and Planning, Matthew Pennycook MP, on behalf of the Secretary of State [Angela Rayner].“The decision was in line with the recommendation of the independent Planning Inspector.” Alex Davies, the managing director of Berkeley Homes, the developers, remarked: “We welcome the Secretary of State’s decision, which underlines the government’s commitment to housing delivery and growth.”