Planning and development
Planning and built development has a huge impact on Kent's wildlife and countryside. Kent Wildlife Trust works extensively with planners, developers and decision-makers to ensure development avoids damage to wildlife and wherever possible benefits the natural environment.
The Trust assesses 300 planning applications every year, from small applications affecting protected species up to major developments such as the planned 7250 homes at Eastern Quarry, Dartford.
We also influence planning policy by commenting on Local Development Frameworks and Regional planning documents. This involves a large amount of detailed work, as well as attendance at planning inquiries.
Sustainable Community Strategies
Every Local Authority has to prepare a Sustainable Community Strategy. This is a real chance to make your voice heard.
Kent Wildlife Trust, together with other agencies, has produced a guide:
'Community Strategies and Kent's Natural Environment'
Campaign
New planning arrangements set out in the Planning Bill would threaten some of the county's most important wild areas.
The Trust's involvement in the planning process has enabled us to press for more environmentally-friendly development and get a better deal for wildlife, even in the case of major infrastructure projects. More information
But the new Planning Bill will fast-track decision making on strategic infrastructure projects such as major ports, roads, waste and energy projects. As a result, we will be unable to be fully involved in planning decisions, and wildlife and wild places could be lost to new infrastructure projects even where better alternatives exist.
It is possible that Kent is likely to have to accommodate several major infrastructure projects in the next few years. For the sake of our wildlife and local communities, we must ensure the Planning Bill allows us to have a meaningful say and contribution. We are calling for a National Policy Statement on the natural environment to underpin the new planning system and urging our local MPs to ensure this Bill lives up to our key tests.
