News
Maidstone Borough Council raises concerns over proposed Hermitage Quarry expansion
Maidstone Borough Council's response Kent County Council's consultation on the draft Kent Mineral Sites Plan to be submitted
A response to Kent County Council's consultation on the draft Kent Mineral Sites Plan has been formally agreed by Maidstone Borough Council's Cabinet and will now be submitted as part of the examination process.
The response raises significant concerns about the evidence used to justify a proposed quarry extension into land south and west of the existing Hermitage Quarry. It follows the council's longstanding objections to the proposed allocation, which would allow quarrying on land affecting areas of ancient woodland.
The response says that the evidence submitted in support of the proposal does not adequately demonstrate the exceptional circumstances required by national planning policy to justify the loss of irreplaceable habitat.
It raises concerns that the assessment relies too heavily on a 2013 Secretary of State decision made under previous planning policy, fails to fully account for the loss of ancient woodland and its ecological value, and does not sufficiently explore alternative sources of hard rock and roadstone.
The council is also concerned that key questions about whether the loss of ancient woodland can be justified are effectively being deferred to a future planning application stage, rather than being resolved through the site allocation process itself. As a result, the response recommends that Kent County Council undertakes further assessment and review of the evidence supporting the proposed Hermitage Quarry allocation.
Comments on the existing Chapel Farm allocation near Lenham are also raised. While not objecting to the allocation itself, Maidstone Borough Council has recommended enhanced protection for nearby ancient woodland, including consideration of a wider buffer zone in line with Natural England guidance.
Councillor Tony Harwood, Cabinet Member for Planning Policy and Management, said: "Ancient woodland is our most ecologically and culturally important terrestrial habitat. Being literally irreplaceable, national planning policy rightly sets an exceptionally high bar where development would result in its loss or deterioration.
"Maidstone Borough Council’s analysis is clear that the evidence as presented by Kent County Council falls far short of the level of policy justification required by the National Planning Policy Framework."
Councillor Rachel Rodwell, Cabinet Member for Nature and Climate Transition, said: "Ancient woodland is one of our most valuable natural assets and, once lost, it cannot be replaced. That's why proposals that could result in the loss of these irreplaceable habitats must be subject to the highest level of scrutiny and supported by compelling evidence.
“We remain concerned that the evidence presented does not yet demonstrate the wholly exceptional circumstances required by national planning policy to justify the loss of ancient woodland."
In its response, the council recommends that Kent County Council revisits the evidence supporting the allocation, including reviewing the need for heritage stone, assessing alternative sources of supply, considering the latest scientific evidence relating to soil translocation and reassessing whether the proposal meets national planning policy tests relating to irreplaceable habitats such as ancient woodland.
The consultation remains open and residents, businesses and organisations can still submit their own representations directly to Kent County Council. Further information and details of how to respond are available via the Kent Mineral Sites Plan Regulation 19 consultation.