Those living in a quiet village say they are terrified of Keir Starmer‘s housing schemes that might turn the area into a busy suburb after plans for thousands of new homes.
Labour announced an overhaul of planning rules today, with Sir Keir and Angela Rayner vowing to override ‘blockers’ preventing new developments in their mission to build 1.5million new homes.
Following a two-month consultation, ministers have agreed a final version of the National Planning Policy Framework – to try and hit the housebuilding target in five years.
One of the measures includes councils being given mandatory targets to deliver up to 370,000 homes a year, and being told to identify lower-quality green belt land that can be built on.
And those living in the countryside village of Rodmersham – which is made up of 275 homes and is 10 minutes outside of the commuter town of Sittingbourne – are afraid for their sleepy home.
Plans have been submitted to build 8,400 homes on surrounding land to make a new ‘garden village’, including primary and secondary schools and a hotel.
Locals slammed the move, saying ‘we don’t want them here’.
Paul Fosbraey who has lived in Rodmersham near Sittingbourne his whole life, said the new houses would be ‘detrimental’ to the village
Those living in the countryside of Rodmersham – which is made up of 275 homes and is 10 minutes outside of the commuter town of Sittingbourne – are afraid for their sleepy home
Keir Starmer said he would prioritise ‘human beings wanting to have a house’ as he joined his deputy Angela Rayner unveiling a radical overhaul of the rules
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Swale Borough Council was set to make a decision on the controversial bid in November – before Ms Rayner, the Housing Secretary, stepped in and took control.
This means the decision is now out of the council’s hands – much to the dismay of locals.
The government will rule on the plans in the new year, with Rodmersham likely to be a test case for how determined ministers are to force through planning decisions in the teeth of local objections.
Residents’ concerns include traffic, a strain on resources, construction noise, harm to wildlife – and the obstruction of their lovely country views.
Speaking this morning, Paul Fosbraey, 72, who has lived in Rodmersham near Sittingbourne his whole life, said the new houses would be ‘detrimental’ to the village.
The pensioner who volunteers at St Nicholas’ Church said: ‘I would like for them to build it anywhere else but here.
‘It is a lovely area, and it is a shame that it is going to be spoilt. It will be detrimental to the area.
‘I know people have to live somewhere, but we don’t want them here.’
Lesley Haggar, 76, has been living in her cottage for 17 years with her husband Graham.
Lucy Ingram, 43, moved to her home a year ago with her partner and three children
Graham, 80, who is church treasurer and a parish councillor, stressed the need to preserve the countryside
Land near St Nicholas’ Church in Rodersham, Kent
The pair moved from Gravesend in their retirement, with hopes of enjoying the peace of nature and seeing some lovely wildlife.
Mrs Haggar said these plans will ruin that for them, and she fears the homes are not being build to aid the homeless – but the rich.
A portion of the proposed homes will be affordable, according to planning information.
She said: ‘It absolutely will ruin living here for me. It makes me a bit emotional to think about.
‘It has been a lovely place to live and we are part of the community. They just want to make it another suburb.
‘There are very few places like this left in the Southeast and we need to preserve it.
‘We need houses, but we also need countryside and fresh air.’
Mrs Haggar said the other problems are the strain on their supplies and the additional traffic – with the narrow country road backing their houses already causing controversy for its 60mph speed limit.
She added: ‘We have a shortage of water so I am not sure where they will get that from.
‘The traffic will be a problem. It only takes one accident on the M2 or A2 and this is chockablock. Even if they build new roads it won’t alleviate the problem.
‘If it goes ahead then I will be living in a housing estate.’
Her husband Graham, 80, who is church treasurer and a parish councillor, shared his wife’s concerns – stressing the need to preserve the countryside.
St Nicholas’ Church in Rodersham, Kent
Plans have been submitted to build 8,400 homes on surrounding land to make a new ‘garden village’, including primary and secondary schools and a hotel
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The retired engineer said: ‘This is a farming community, and we don’t want it destroyed. Most the people here had been farming all their lives.
‘It is appalling. I don’t think we should be destroying our countryside.
‘I know there is a demand for houses, but there are other places to build them.
‘They won’t be helping the homeless, these houses are for people with lots of money who want a home in the countryside.
‘It is a nightmare. We are at capacity with the people already here.’
Sue Shiels, who is in her mid-50’s, has lived in her home for 25 years, and says she feels the villagers have been ‘thrown to the wolves’ with these plans.
She said: ‘It is just really scary. It doesn’t feel like there has been a democracy.
‘It is horrendous. The impact will be devastating. If these changes go ahead then we won’t live here much longer.
‘It is not just what the houses will do, but the next ten years of building, noise, diversions.
‘Our village will suddenly be absorbed into the town.
‘The houses are all Grade-II listed and it has such history. We want to look after it and protect it.’
Lucy Ingram, 43, moved to her home a year ago with her partner and three children.
The mum says she is very upset by the news as it will ruin her views and add tonnes of traffic to her school run.
She said: ‘We are not happy. The noise will be horrible.
‘This is a conservation area so we have to jump through a million hoops to get a branch cut from a tree, but they can build that monstrosity without asking anyone.
A portion of the proposed homes will be affordable, according to planning information
Pictured is the quaint St Nicholas’ Church in Rodersham, Kent
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‘My footpath leads to the fields, so it would now lead to a public park. It is a huge invasion of our privacy.
‘The traffic will be a nightmare. We already take our lives into our own hands every time we reverse off the drive.
‘It is already so hard to get a GP appointment, we won’t be able to cope.
‘Our views of the farmers’ fields are lovely, with this all we would be able to see is the link road.’
Howard, 78, only began renting his property with his wife one year ago, but he says that these new plans would ruin their retirement.
He said: ‘It would be awful. There isn’t enough infrastructure around here.
‘The roads are really dangerous. You can’t even get two lorries past each other so we can’t handle all those extra cars.
‘They won’t be able to get all their equipment through here. It just won’t work. It is not a good plan. The more I think about it the more of a bad idea I think it is.
‘I love living here.
‘There would have to be a lot of construction and it would be really noisy.’
