Fears for the future of Minster on the isle of Sheppey grow as a proposals for a 650-home development off Scocles Road are set to be discussed at Swale council’s planning committee on Thursday, 10th October.
The applicant, MLN Ltd, says the plans “offer the opportunity to provide a sustainable eastern extension to Minster, which contributes to the housing growth needs” of the area.
But locals argue that the village’s population has already grown significantly, from 14,700 in 2011 to 17,400 in 2021, according to census data. The total number of homes already granted planning permission in the village since October 2017 is 1,334. If another 650 homes are built, it will take the total to almost 2,000.
Councillor Tom Nundy, who chairs Minster Parish Council’s planning committee, said that “excessive developments” are not in the “Island’s best interest”.
He added “The idea that building more houses will solve any of the issues the Island faces is ludicrous. We have a lack of doctors’ surgeries, school places, shocking road network, absence of local amenities and high levels of deprivation. While our local beat officers are brilliant there just aren’t enough of them leading to anti-social behaviour and crime.”
There are also worries that this will be the final housing application for the area. Developers are looking at Minster because it is seen as a nice area, where the land they can build on will recover their costs through higher house prices than other, less attractive areas.
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