Controversial 24-hr Kent lorry park to be built after planning appeal
A controversial plan[1] for a 24-hour HGV truck stop close to the M26 in Kent[2] has been approved at appeal by a Government planning inspector. The site is 16 acres of farmland west of the A20 and north of the M26, Junction 2a. It will be a secure stop facility for 197 HGVs, with a fuel station, a building, new access to the A20 via a roundabout.
The plan by Moto Hospitality Ltd, trading as Moto, was rejected by Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council[3] in April 2022 as KentLive reported[4]. The council said at the time the truck stop was "inappropriate development", and would "harmfully erode the rural character and appearance of the area". The inspector noted there had been objections to the scheme from the parish councils of Wrotham, Platt, Borough Green, Addington, Stansted and Ightham.
They said the "economic, social and environment benefits of the proposal" outweighed the harm to the landscape and local area. Moto is the UK's largest motorway service area operator. It said in the most recent planning papers there was "urgent need for HGV parking facilities within Kent".
Its appeal was decided on February 13 and the same day council leader Matt Boughton said: "Today the Planning Inspectorate has announced its decision after an appeal from MOTO, which followed the Area 2 Planning Committee rejecting MOTO's plans for a 24 hour HGV truck stop at M26 Junction 2a in Wrotham Heath." "Despite recognising the character and appearance to the local area would be impacted, and there was harm to the setting of the Kent Downs National Landscape, the Inspector has decided that the need for facilities for lorry drivers and the land meeting the Labour Government's new 'greybelt' criteria results in the application being allowed."
'Important public benefits'
In one part of the planning inspectors 28 page decision, he spoke about the harm to the area, but also the benefits to the freight and logistics sector. He said: "The character and appearance of the area in the immediate vicinity of the site would be harmed due to a loss of the rural outlook from the roadside and the introduction of incongruous features along the A20.
There would also be minor to mid-range less than substantial harm to the setting of the Grade II listed buildings. "Although all the harms I have identified would be limited and localised, they are nevertheless very important matters which taken together carry great weight in the balance." "On the other hand, for all the reasons set out above, the proposal would provide a range of important public benefits which would support the freight and logistics sector, improve safety on the SRN (Strategic roads network) and provide essential welfare facilities for lorry drivers."
"I therefore conclude that the economic, social and environment benefits of the proposal, which together carry very substantial and significant weight, outweigh the great weight associated with the cumulative harms to the KDNL (Kent Downs National Landscape), heritage assets and the local area."
Concern about harming species
The council in its decision also raised concerns about the development harming protected species. It also raised concern about overspill from headlights of the trucks on neighbouring homes. The outline plans submitted in 2021 showed the site includes land which is part of Wrotham Water Farm.
The amenity building will be up to 1,100sqm. The site is in Metropolitan Green Belt. Join our new WhatsApp community! Click this link to receive your daily dose of KentLive content.
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References
- ^ plan (www.kentlive.news)
- ^ Kent (www.kentlive.news)
- ^ Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council (www.kentlive.news)
- ^ KentLive reported (www.kentlive.news)
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- ^ Privacy Notice (www.reachplc.com)