Background Information

Against Lidsing Garden Development (ALGD) was formed in December 2020 following the discovery that Maidstone Borough Council (MBC) proposed to include a ‘Garden Community’ at Lidsing comprising of 2000+ houses in their emerging Local Plan. 

ALGD is a working party of Bredhurst Parish Council (BPC) and is made up of BPC Cllrs working together with residents from Hempstead, Lordswood and Rainham. 

Lidsing is a hamlet of 13 houses adjacent to Hempstead, Lordswood and Bredhurst and is accessed by rural country roads.  The proposed development area comprises 127-hectares of predominantly agricultural land (Grade 3) and lies within the jurisdiction of MBC at its furthest northern boundary with Medway Council.  The main access road to the proposed development is a new spur road to Junction 4 of the M2 which is to be built on farmland in Bredhurst which is in the AONB.  The spur road would need to be elevated significantly causing an even greater impact on the AONB with light and noise pollution.  Council tax will go to MBC, but all services and facilities will be provided by Medway Council who strongly oppose the scheme. 

The first public consultation (Regulation 18b) was held in Dec 20/ Jan 21. 1700 objections were made to MBC specifically on the Lidsing Garden Development. 

In October 2021, despite the 1700 objections, MBC Strategic Planning and Infrastructure Committee (SPIC) voted to proceed with the draft Local Plan and referred it to a Full Council Meeting.  They approved the Local Plan 26-23 votes. 

The second public consultation (Regulation 19) ran for 6 weeks until 12th December 2021. There were approximately 1000 objections relating to Lidsing Garden Community.

In March 2022, despite being presented with a 3500-signature petition urging MBC to remove Lidsing from the plan, the SPIC voted to submit their draft Local Plan to an independent Government Inspector to assess the plan for ‘soundness’ and ‘deliverability’ at an Examination in Public Hearing.

The Stage 1 Hearings took place in September 2022, where our barrister and experts presented the Inspector with extensive evidence against the development proposal. The Inspector subsequently found Lidsing 'unsound' but allowed MBC to suggest main modifications and further evidence of how the plan could be made sound at the Stage 2 Hearings in May / June 2023.

In March 2024, the Inspector concluded that the revised Local Plan was 'sound' but stated it required numerous modifications. Subsequently, MBC voted 31:21 in favour of adopting the Local Plan despite strong opposition from BPC, ALGD, KCC and Medway Council.

In April 2024, following extensive legal advice, BPC commenced High Court action against MBC.

ALGD are fundraising for our fighting fund! Please donate and share...

https://gofund.me/1578aaa9

Cheques, payable to Bredhurst Parish Council, may also be sent to:  

BPC Clerk, C/O Englefield, Dunn Street, Bredhurst, Gillingham, Kent. ME7 3LY.

Please enclose your name and address.  

Funds will be ringfenced and administered by Bredhurst Parish Council.