Protect our village from developer madness!

TWO different planning applications for

34 Additional Houses in Noah's Ark

Application Details here & here

This will cause major TRAFFIC CHAOS in Kemsing village - it's already so bad along West End, imagine what it will be like with many more cars!

Pilgrims Way is a nightmare with so many CLOSURES already in the last few years - if the development goes ahead, Pilgrims Way will be jammed with lorries for YEARS!

The GP services are already stretched and getting appointments is hard...it will be IMPOSSIBLE!

Ecological & flooding DISASTER! Click here for details

Applications have been rejected MULTIPLE TIMES in the past on the same sites as they are not practical for development.

ACT NOW!

We only have until 23rd May & 4th June to submit comments on the proposal

Get Involved

What you need to know

B.Yond Homes (formely Rydon Homes) have submitted a planning application for 27 homes in Noah's Ark. It's madness!

And a further proposal of 7 houses planned at 5A Noah's Ark.

We are dedicated to safeguarding Noah's Ark and Kemsing from any form of property development that threatens our neighbourhood's character and wildlife, creating traffic chaos and more pressured on services!

We are not against development, especially for affordable homes. But there proposals are simply not practical in the areas proposed.

We seek to rally support for our cause and raise awareness about the importance of preserving our natural surroundings.

Below are resources you can use to submit your comments to Sevenoaks District Council. Act Now! Time is running out

Learn More

What can you do?

There are several things you can do:

Comment on the planning application

guidance on what you can write is here. Remember to write it in your own words, don't just copy and paste the text. Click here and here to submit your comments.

Write to your MP, Kemsing Parish, Sevenoaks District & Kent County Councillors

Here are key contacts and people to write to so they know we object to this proposal.

Laura Trott - MP for Sevenoaks & Swanley: laura.trott.mp@parliament.uk

She is publicly opposed to development on Green Belt land: https://www.lauratrott.org.uk/news/mp-column-protecting-green-belt

Councillors for Kemsing Ward:

Simon Reay: cllr.reay@sevenoaks.gov.uk

Chris Haslam: cllr.haslam@sevenoaks.gov.uk

Sevenoaks District Council's Development & Conservation Cabinet Member:

Councillor Julia Thornton: cllr.thornton@sevenoaks.gov.uk

Guidance on commenting on the planning application

1 / Objections must be based on "material considerations"

What does this mean? Purely emotional objections will NOT be considered when the council reviews objections. You must show clearly with facts why the application is not appropriate.

2 / Examples of Material Considerations relevant to the application

Traffic generation/highway safety - can you prove the development will make this worse?
Adequacy of parking - what evidence is there that Greenlands Rd and Noah's Ark will have major issues on parking as a result of this development?
Nature Conservation - how will wildlife and ecology be damaged, can you prove this?
Flooding - any evidence of flooding in the areas
Overshadowing - will your property lose light from new houses?
Noise, smells & disturbance - can you provide facts that this will be a problem?

More examples of material considerations are here.

Major risk to wildlife, natural environment & risk of flooding!

An important stream runs alongside the site in private residences that feeds into a Chalk Stream - one of only 200 in the world! Click here to more info on Chalk Streams.

The area has been subject to major flooding many times! More concrete = more flooding! This video footage is from a property directly adjacent to the proposed development site.

Planning on this site has been rejected many times in the past

A number of applications have been made to develop this area. All were dismissed. No appeals were upheld.

1974 Reference SE/74/197

1975 Reference SE/75/1273

1980 Reference SE/80/144

1987 Reference SE/87/227.

1977 Reference SE/77/645

1999 Reference SE/99/00706

2013 Reference SE/13/00604

1974 for the erection of 40 houses

The inspector noted the following:

The area lies with an area of great landscape value and outstanding natural beauty. Each forms part of the Metropolitan Greenbelt.
The site itself is particularly unsuitable for residential development, lying at the end of a long 16-foot-wide cul-de-sac (Greenlands Road), abutting a main railway line and subject to frequent and serious flooding
The problem of inadequate sight lines at the junction of Greenlands Road and the new access road
The likelihood of additional hazard to traffic

1975 for the erection of 28 semi detached houses (appeal)

The inspector noted the following:

The appeal would consider both the appearance and character of the area
and road safety on Greenlands Road
The area remains rural and any development regarding that application would detract from the rural character and appearance
Greenlands Road is unlit with a carriageway only 16 foot wide
Immediate turning facilities would be inadequate
Adequate sight lines and the curb radii the junction of Greenlands Road and new access road would not be within the control of the developer

1980 for the demolition of the ‘The Laurels’ access to the erection of 22 houses

and garages

The inspector noted the following:

There was no special need or particular circumstance that would warrant setting aside the strong planning assumptions against residential development in this locality
The lies within the Metropolitan Greenbelt in an area of great landscape value

1987 for the erection of two bungalows and garages within the grounds of ‘The Laurels’

The inspector noted the following:

Noise and disturbance will cause a major diminution in the standard of residential amenity currently enjoyed by New Haven and Fairhaven
The point made above will give rise to one of the disadvantages of backland developments.