The Plan 2040 survey asks you how you want the District to develop up until 2040 and gives you three options. Keep Westerham Green recommends that you pick Option 2* which features the ‘standalone’ Pedham Place, Site MX15. Below are the sort of comments we will make on Pedham Place, Site MX15 (listed under ‘Swanley’) but you will obviously want to give your own views.
1. It’s the only large-scale site making a considerable contribution to the District’s housing needs in a truly sustainable way. The proposer understands the requirement to build 40% of the 2,500 proposed units as affordable housing and mentions housing for the elderly.
2. Pedham Place would have the capacity for major infrastructure support: a secondary school and two primary schools, upgraded community facilities, retail and employment floorspace.
3. The site is well located, at the junction of the M25 and the A20/M20. It’s not far from Swanley, Eynsford and South Darenth railway stations. It is close to Swanley. The location, the nature and the scale of the site all make it easy to develop cycle and pedestrian connectivity with nearby Swanley, reducing motorised vehicles movements. Pedham Place is within easy reach of Bexley and the Medway Towns, offering many employment opportunities; the Wasps Rugby Club proposal might also contribute to this.
4. The scale and mix of housing at Pedham Place (MX15) would meet SDC’s exceptional circumstances criterion for Green Belt release. The offer of improved, much needed community facilities and scope for employment opportunities mean that development there would be in the public interest, justifying this development on the AONB.
*All options also feature the ‘Baseline’ sites within the District’s towns.
Keep Westerham Green 