Plans for 300 homes off a country lane have been rejected by councillors because Rainham’s infrastructure cannot handle such a surge in the local population.

At a planning meeting, councillors agreed with the officers’ recommendations to refuse the application from Persimmon Homes.

Cllr David Carr (Con) for Rainham North said: “There were no surprises here – the report by officers was remarkably clear.

“The roads, the schools the doctor’s surgeries can’t handle it.
“There was mention of the fact that it is greenbelt, high quality agricultural land, and once it’s gone it’s gone. But really that almost paled into insignificance compared to the more emotive issues.

“Up to 600 additional cars from these homes is too much. Otterham Quay Lane is a narrow road and the junction onto the A2 is already a narrow bottle neck. The local schools are full and would require extensive modification to cope, and the doctor’s surgeries – which of course are few and far between – are often full up too.”

“The other thing to consider was that this Persimmon application is not alone, it is one of many in the area. There is also the 200 houses off Moor Street as well as the development in Bakersfield going to public inquiry. These 300 homes had to be looked at in connection with them.”

Just on the other side of the railway line, Gladman Developments wants to build around 200 houses.

In the run up to the meeting Medway Council received 186 letters and emails listing a total of 31 complaints including increased traffic congestion and the removal of an orchard.
Environmental groups also feared the 26-acre development could wipe out wildlife, particularly reducing the number of birds.

Kent County Council’s heritage conservation group also commented that the site was of archeological interest with Iron Age and Anglo-Saxon finds discovered.

In their report council officers said they felt that, while the development would contribute towards meeting market and affordable housing needs in Medway, the adverse impacts of granting planning permission would significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits.