Response to Sevenoaks District Council’s Local Plan

Key Question – Policy ST1

 What is your preferred option?

 None of the above

Please explain your answer:

The Council does not support either of the two options presented in this consultation and considers that “none of the above” is the most appropriate position. Residents have not been given a meaningful range of alternatives, with the consultation framed around only two highly constrained and flawed options.

We recognise the significant challenges faced by Sevenoaks District Council in meeting the Government’s housing targets, particularly given the high proportion of the District designated as Green Belt. We also share widespread concern and disappointment regarding the Government’s revised National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF 2024), specifically the introduction and definition of “Grey Belt”.

It is particularly concerning that the Council’s updated Green Belt assessment now categorises large areas of previously protected land as Grey Belt. While we note that Grey Belt land may be considered suitable for allocation, this is conditional on sites being located in sustainable locations, with clear reference to accessibility by public transport. In this respect, we do not believe that many of the proposed sites meet this requirement, particularly given the limited and unreliable local bus services and existing infrastructure constraints.

HO/21/00096 – Meadow View, Top Dartford Road, Hextable and

HO/21/00223 – Land south of Lower Road, Hextable

Please also note our response to Policy ST1

Unsuitable Location and Sustainability Concerns

• The sites off Lower Road and Top Dartford Road, Hextable are of particular concern to Sutton-at-Hone & Hawley Parish Council. Lower Road leads directly onto Clement Street, a narrow rural lane with no public transport provision and minimal pedestrian and no cycle infrastructure. As a result, the location is inherently unsustainable, with future residents likely to be heavily car-dependent. This would inevitably lead to increased traffic volumes, noise, and adverse air-quality impacts on surrounding rural and residential areas. Sutton-at-Hone and Hawley already experience severe congestion at peak times, particularly when incidents occur on the A2 or M25, which is now a frequent occurrence.
• The proposed sites are not located within close proximity to a railway station, further undermining their sustainability credentials.
• This is valuable farmland that also acts as a vital buffer between villages, preventing them from merging and helping preserve their distinct character and strong community identity.
• Development on this scale would result in a substantial and irreversible change to the rural character and landscape of the area, which is highly valued by the Parish Council and local residents.
• Existing public services and infrastructure in our parish and neighbouring communities are already under significant pressure. This includes local roads, bus routes, primary and secondary schools, GP and health services, as well as drainage and wastewater systems. The addition of a substantial number of new dwellings would place an unsustainable burden on these services, with no clear or credible plans for the necessary capacity enhancements.
• Highway safety is a major concern. County lanes in the vicinity were not designed to accommodate traffic levels associated with developments of this size. The narrow width of the roads, coupled with limited visibility in several locations, raises serious concerns for pedestrian safety and would negatively affect residents’ quality of life.
• In the absence of clear, deliverable proposals for improved public transport, additional school places, expanded GP services, sewage and drainage upgrades, and appropriate community facilities, the scale of development proposed cannot be supported.

MX/21/00013 – Land at Horton Road, South Darenth

Please also note our response to Policy ST1

Unsuitable Location and Sustainability Concerns

• The site off Horton Road, South Darenth is another site of concern to Sutton-at-Hone & Hawley Parish Council. This is another country lane, surrounded by more country lanes. There is minimal public transport provision and minimal pedestrian and no cycle infrastructure. As a result, the location is inherently unsustainable, with future residents likely to be heavily car-dependent. This would inevitably lead to increased traffic volumes, noise, and adverse air-quality impacts on surrounding rural and residential areas. Sutton-at-Hone and Hawley already experience severe congestion at peak times, particularly when incidents occur on the A2 or M25, which is now a frequent occurrence.
• This is grade 2 agricultural land. The permanent loss of such land to development would reduce the availability of productive farmland.
• Development on this scale would result in a substantial and irreversible change to the rural character and landscape of the area, which is highly valued by the Parish Council and local residents.
• Existing public services and infrastructure in our parish and neighbouring communities are already under significant pressure. This includes local roads, bus routes, primary and secondary schools, GP and health services, as well as drainage and wastewater systems. The addition of a substantial number of new dwellings would place an unsustainable burden on these services, with no clear or credible plans for the necessary capacity enhancements.

• There is only one GP surgery locally serving South Darenth and Horton Kirby, as well as Sutton-at-Hone and Hawley. Residents already experience significant difficulty obtaining GP appointments. Even when including the surgery in Farningham, this means just two GP practices serving six villages.

There is only one supermarket serving Horton Kirby, South Darenth, Sutton-at-Hone and Hawley, along with a single post office, chemist and dentist.

The 414 bus service, which serves the four villages, runs only once per hour and is frequently cancelled. Train services also operate at just one train per hour.

• Highway safety is a major concern. County lanes in the vicinity were not designed to accommodate traffic levels associated with developments of this size. The narrow width of the roads, coupled with limited visibility in several locations, raises serious concerns for pedestrian safety and would negatively affect residents’ quality of life.
• In the absence of clear, deliverable proposals for improved public transport, additional school places, expanded GP services, sewage and drainage upgrades, and appropriate community facilities, the scale of development proposed cannot be supported.

HO/21/00094
Land at Oakview Stud Farm, Lombard Street, Horton Kirby and

HO/21/00097

The Stables at Oakview Stud, Lombard Street, Horton Kirby

Please also note our response to Policy ST1

Unsuitable Location and Sustainability Concerns

• The sites off Lombard Street, South Darenth are sites of concern to Sutton-at-Hone & Hawley Parish Council. This is another narrow country road, surrounded by more country lanes. There is minimal public transport provision and minimal pedestrian and no cycle infrastructure. As a result, the location is inherently unsustainable, with future residents likely to be heavily car-dependent. This would inevitably lead to increased traffic volumes, noise, and adverse air-quality impacts on surrounding rural and residential areas. Sutton-at-Hone and Hawley already experience severe congestion at peak times, particularly when incidents occur on the A2 or M25, which is now a frequent occurrence.
• The proposed site is not located within close proximity to a railway station, further undermining their sustainability credentials.
• Development on this scale would result in a substantial and irreversible change to the rural character and landscape of the area, which is highly valued by the Parish Council and local residents.
• Existing public services and infrastructure in our parish and neighbouring communities are already under significant pressure. This includes local roads, bus routes, primary and secondary schools, GP and health services, as well as drainage and wastewater systems. The addition of a substantial number of new dwellings would place an unsustainable burden on these services, with no clear or credible plans for the necessary capacity enhancements.

• There is only one GP surgery locally serving South Darenth and Horton Kirby, as well as Sutton-at-Hone and Hawley. Residents already experience significant difficulty obtaining GP appointments. Even when including the surgery in Farningham, this means just two GP practices serving six villages.

There is only one supermarket serving Horton Kirby, South Darenth, Sutton-at-Hone and Hawley, along with a single post office, chemist and dentist.

The 414 bus service, which serves the four villages, runs only once per hour and is frequently cancelled. Train services also operate at just one train per hour.

• Highway safety is a major concern. County lanes in the vicinity were not designed to accommodate traffic levels associated with developments of this size. The narrow width of the roads, coupled with limited visibility in several locations, raises serious concerns for pedestrian safety and would negatively affect residents’ quality of life.
• In the absence of clear, deliverable proposals for improved public transport, additional school places, expanded GP services, sewage and drainage upgrades, and appropriate community facilities, the scale of development proposed cannot be supported.