Highways depot plan abandoned by KCC

CPRE Kent  is “extremely relieved” that Kent County Council has agreed to overturn planning permission for a salt store and gritting lorry “Superdepot” at London Road, Wrotham.

KCC’s action was in response to an upcoming judicial review of the council’s decision to grant itself planning permission for the depot, which would have been built on a partially greenfield site that lies entirely within the Green Belt and Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). The council decided it would not contest the judicial review.

“We would never have applied for judicial review of the KCC Superdepot decision if we had not felt it was vital for the protection of our countryside,” said CPRE Kent director Dr Hilary Newport. “Building the Wrotham Superdepot would have set a terrible precedent for development in protected landscapes.

“We regret intensely that so much time and money should have been spent in reversing the decision, but a ...

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