Category
🗞
NewsTranscript
00:00Protesting outside the council as a decision is due to expand Birchington by 1600 homes.
00:07I'll show you.
00:09Since proposals went through there's been fierce opposition.
00:12Neighbours say infrastructure won't cope.
00:15They just want to build, build, build.
00:18It seems to be so lacking in foresight.
00:21I've just changed my doctor surgeon from Birchington because it's bad enough as it is now.
00:26So what the hell is it going to be like when this all comes into play?
00:33But they have to convince the planning committee of this.
00:36Across two nights, locals packed into the public gallery.
00:39They heard the developer making their case.
00:42They're pledging to contribute some £46 million to community facilities.
00:47A new two-form entry primary school.
00:50Nearly £8 million towards a secondary school.
00:53£1.4 million towards the future expansion of Birchington Medical Centre.
00:57Another £2 million towards the upgrade of local facilities.
01:01These are all facilities that will benefit not just the residents in this development,
01:06but all the residents in Birchington too.
01:08Now these are the fields where the proposed development could be built.
01:12One of the biggest concerns is the potential harm to the countryside and building
01:16on what is acknowledged to be prime agricultural land.
01:19Ahead of the decision, the local MP brought the issue to Parliament.
01:23Would the Minister write to the leader of Fannock District Council
01:26and remind him that agricultural land is the stuff that we grow food on
01:30and it's needed for housing if we are to remain sustainable?
01:33But officers say the economic and social benefits significantly outweigh that.
01:38However, after two long nights of debate, this is the moment the council refused the plans.
01:44Not the decision developers wanted with a potential £90 million of profit
01:49if the green light was given.
01:52Surprised, delighted, relieved and we know there will be appeals to follow up
01:59but we'll cross each bridge as it comes to us.
02:02It will come back.
02:04Councillors want developers to increase the number of affordable homes being offered.
02:08Well, I think it's a really difficult situation.
02:11I think that particularly with the infrastructure we already have
02:14and it was touched on over both nights of this meeting
02:17that we've had issues with congestion and traffic within the village.
02:20Those issues won't be solved by this application
02:23and if anything, if this is granted, it will only make them worse.
02:26The developer will now amend the application
02:28but this site is allocated in the local plan for homes
02:31so if it goes to appeal, it'll be hard for the council to defend.
02:35Gabriel Morris in Birchington.