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Homes England slashes development on major site to protect nightingales
A planned 2,000-home development backed by the government’s delivery agency has been slashed by 75% to protect a population of nightingales.
Homes England had initially intended to build 2,000 properties in Lodge Hill, Kent, but has reduced the plans to 500 following outcry from local campaigners.
The area used to be a military site, but is now considered a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and is home to one of the largest nightingale populations in the UK.
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Medway Council had previously claimed that the land was needed to fulfil their obligation to provide 20,500 new homes in the area by 2035.
However, several charities, including the Kent Wildlife Trust, Royal Society for the Protection of Birds and Buglife, had launched a #SaveLodgeHill campaign which gained a response from more than 1,000 people.
Ken Glendinning, head of strategic land at Homes England, said: “We believe that this approach will avoid any impact on the SSSI, while still making an appropriate contribution to Medway’s housing need for local people.”
The initial plan would have been the first to go against the National Planning Policy Framework’s prohibition of development on SSSIs unless the benefits outweigh the impacts.
The Kent Wildlife Trust said this could set “a dangerous precedent” for SSSI’s across the country.
Following the announcement, the Kent Wildlife Trust wrote on its website: “While we still have concerns about the plans for thousands of homes in the vicinity, this is a massive step in the right direction.”
