The claim for the development in Faversham has been made by council planning officers
Land at Abbeyfields in Faversham could be used for 240 new homes(Image: Google)
New proposals for a larger housing development on a previously rejected site is “unlikely” to have a major impact on the environment, despite being located next to a protected landscape.
Critics of the scheme say this means the revised plans for a 240-home estate may come “at the expense of the environment and wildlife”, after council planning officers ruled there was no need for a formal Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).
Building on the land at Abbeyfields in Faversham is “unlikely to have any significant impact on the environment”, Swale Borough Council (SBC) officials have decided.
It has been mooted as a possible site for housing for several years, but now potentially has a third more properties under the currently proposed masterplan.
In July 2023, an initial application for 180 homes was rejected by SBC’s planning committee, despite planning officers recommending it be approved.
Earlier this month, revised plans resurfaced which are 33.3% larger than before, with 240 homes proposed on the farmland north east of Faversham, and covering an additional field than earlier schemes outlined.
A full planning application has not been submitted, but the proposals to build were revealed after developers Fernham Homes submitted an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Screening Opinion request to SBC.
These are routinely submitted by developers which plan to apply for permission for large developments, and ask the local council if a full EIA needs to be submitted alongside a planning application.
SBC officers have decided that any future planning application for the site will not need an EIA.
“The scheme would not likely comprise any unusual complexity or novel methods or design of construction likely to give rise to complex or significant environmental impacts,” a report from SBC’s planning department argues.
“The proposed development, due to its nature, is unlikely to have any significant impact on the environment.”
Controversially though, the eastern part of the proposed site sits only 200 metres away from the Swale Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).
Cllr Laura Coniam (Lib Dem), who sits on Faversham Town Council, said: “The government’s push to accelerate housebuilding is stripping local authorities of the tools needed to protect our most precious green spaces, and wildlife.
“We are seeing a future where EIAs become a rarity rather than a requirement for major developments.”
The SSSI is a distinctive area of mudflats and salt marshes which host many species of plant and animal life, and as such is protected by law.
Cllr Hannah Perkin (Lib Dem), who represents the area on SBC, added: “We understand the need for new homes, especially affordable homes for local families, but this can not be at the expense of the environment and wildlife.
“Developers have been trying to get permission to build on Abbeyfields for over 30 years.
“There are many reasons why they have failed. We will continue to support local residents who are opposed to the plans.”
The 2023 application for Abbeyfields was scrapped over a potential impact on the countryside and because a Section 106 agreement had not been agreed. Councillors argued the plans failed to mitigate the impact of building on local services and infrastructure.
The land was a brickworks 102 years ago, but generations of residents will recognise the plot as farmland.
At a town council meeting earlier this month, Fernham bosses faced a “packed public gallery” where “the feeling was very anti-development”.
Speaking after the meeting, Faversham’s mayor Josh Rowlands (Lib Dem) said while personal opinions would need to be put aside due to the council’s role in determining the plan, he was pleased to see people offering their views.
“The council has got the feel of the room, with residents not keen on the plans,” he said.
“As the mayor, it was good to see a packed public gallery, full of people keen to give their opinions.”
Sean Ellis, managing director at Fernham Homes, said: “Our plans are at an early stage, and we’re working closely with Swale Borough Council, Kent County Council and the town council to shape a scheme that reflects local needs.
“We’ve already earmarked land for potential community use and are exploring options such as allotments.”
He added the “planning landscape has changed significantly” since 2023, and national policy “is now much stronger in its support for new development in sustainable locations like Faversham”.
