Say NO to the further loss of farmland in Thanet: preserve 50 acres at Shottendane Road for future generations.
 
On 21st April 2021 Thanet District Council met to decide whether outline planning permission should be granted for the building of 450 houses on agricultural land to the north and south of Shottendane Road (Salmestone Ward).

The applicant Gladman Developments had already cut affordable housing on the site from 30% (required by council for all developments over 15 dwellings) to 10% due to financial viability issues, thereby failing to provide badly needed affordable housing for local people. 

Other issues with this application include:

• The development is linked to proposed housing schemes at neighbouring villages of Westgate and Birchington via Section 106 payments for a new ‘inner circuit’ road. Together, they will mean the loss of some 750 acres of farmland, much of which is Grade 1 and 2 land.
• The attractive character of central Thanet’s undulating chalk farmland will be changed forever by the proposed housing, roadbuilding and street lighting.
• Open views from footpaths in the area enjoyed by so many will go, with some of the existing footpaths being absorbed into new housing estates.
• Farmland birds, including our much-loved skylarks, and other wildlife will lose their habitat. We need to safeguard the valuable ecosystems that thrive on Thanet’s highly productive farmland.
• A huge chunk of Thanet’s long farming heritage will be lost.
• Farmland in the UK is challenged by environmental factors such as sea-level rise, flooding and carbon emissions. The country’s best farmland, including that in Thanet, should be retained for the benefit of future generations and their food security.
• If the Shottendane Rd development is eventually approved, further losses of nearby farmland are likely as farming in the area becomes increasingly unviable. Overall Thanet's local plan (to 2031) is set to provide 17140 houses in an area of just 40 square miles. Much of this housing (around 87%) will be on productive farmland. 

The planning committee voted against the application on the basis that providing just 10% affordable housing is unacceptable. They also voted for an amended application to return to the committee at a future date.

So our fight continues. Please join us in showing that we do not want houses built on our productive farmland.

Please sign our petition to show how much we all care!