Why are Save Higham Wood banners appearing across Tonbridge?

Residents across Tonbridge may have noticed green Save Higham Wood banners appearing outside homes and along roads in recent months.

The campaign has been launched by local residents concerned about proposals that could see farmland north of Higham Lane become one of the borough's largest housing developments.

For many people, the area is already a familiar part of daily life. The fields, which this summer are covered with growing corn, are popular with walkers, dog owners and cyclists, while the nearby footpaths are well known for their views across the surrounding countryside and some of Tonbridge's best sunsets.

The proposed development forms part of Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council's Draft Local Plan 2024-2042.

One of the largest proposed allocations, known as Land North East of Tonbridge, would allow up to 1,671 new homes together with roads, green spaces, community facilities and other supporting infrastructure.

The draft Local Plan has been prepared to help meet government housing targets while giving the council greater control over where future development takes place.

Without an adopted Local Plan, the council says developers are more likely to submit speculative planning applications that can be difficult to resist on appeal.

The Save Higham Wood campaign says it is not against new housing, but believes development should be directed towards brownfield land rather than Green Belt farmland.

Campaign organisers argue the land around Grange Farm and Greentrees is an important part of the local landscape and have raised concerns over:

• loss of Green Belt countryside
• increased traffic
• pressure on schools and local services
• water supply and drainage
• effects on wildlife and biodiversity

The group has also highlighted the area's agricultural value and its importance as an open space used by local residents throughout the year.

In May, the campaign launched a fundraising appeal after learning that work on the Local Plan was continuing.

The committee says it expects the site could remain in the next stage of the planning process and believes planning applications could also be submitted before the Local Plan is formally adopted.

To prepare, it hopes to raise around £60,000 to fund independent reports covering transport, agriculture, ecology, water supply and drainage, as well as potential legal representation during future planning hearings.

According to the campaign, more than £4,000 had been raised when the appeal was launched.

Landowners promoting the site say the development could deliver a new neighbourhood with around 1,500 homes, including affordable housing.

Illustrative proposals include:

• a new primary school
• local shops and community facilities
• sports pitches and play areas
• extensive public open space
• new walking and cycling routes
• additional woodland planting and biodiversity improvements

Developers describe the scheme as a sustainable extension to Tonbridge designed to meet future housing demand while providing new infrastructure.

The Local Plan is still progressing through the planning process and no final decision has been made.

A further public consultation is expected during the next stage, giving residents another opportunity to comment before the plan is examined by an independent planning inspector.

With banners continuing to appear around Tonbridge, the debate over the future of the land north of Higham Lane looks set to remain one of the town's biggest planning issues in the months ahead.