Concerns about a huge new development at Lenham Heath have not gone away.

On Friday 11 September, I took part in a virtual meeting with Lenham Parish Council to discuss the next steps in the campaign to save Lenham Heath.

Earlier this year, Maidstone Borough Council’s Policy and Resources Committee gave its backing to the proposal for a Council-led ‘garden village’ at Lenham Heath.

However, the development still needs to get approval from the Council’s Planning Committee, which is due to meet later this month to consider the plans. This is part of the Council’s work to develop a new Local Plan for Maidstone.

The current plans would see 4,000 new homes built near Lenham Heath by 2042.

I’ve repeatedly told Councillors that this development is far too big and in completely the wrong place. It would put huge pressure on local roads and services, and risks becoming a London commuter development – which is not what local residents need or want.

My survey on the development found that 96% of respondents though Lenham Heath was the wrong place to build a ‘garden village.

I’ll continue to do all I can to oppose this development.