Plans by developer Kitewood to build 40 homes on greenfield land in Beltinge have been thrown out by a Government planning inspector. Paul Jackson dismissed the company’s appeal against the city council's refusal to release the land for development.
Mike Dolan, Puffin Developers hoping to build 40 homes on the outskirts of Herne Bay will go head-to-head with council bosses at a public inquiry this week.
The two-day hearing, which started 25th Jan, was called after officials from Canterbury City Council failed to decide on the application by Kitewood for a site in Beltinge, near Coventry Gardens.
Kitewood boss Mike Dolan told the Times he was confident the Government inspector would rule in their favour, adding:
"We want to have a harmonious relationship with both officers and councillors. But we don't expect to be ignored when we submit an application. We submitted the application in spring 2011 and just didn't have a reply. The council needs to have a full and deliverable five-year supply of housing and I don't think that is the case."
Kitewood has faced fierce public opposition over plans to build upward of 1,000 homes on agricultural land in Hillborough.
Council spokesman Rob Davies confirmed the application had not been decided within the 13-week target. But officials have since decided they would have refused the development because the site was not needed for housing at the moment.
thisiskent 27th Jan 2012
Kitewood, Mike Dolan, Puffin 
More than 100 residents flocked to a meeting on Monday night to discuss plans for up to 1,375 homes in Hillborough. It was the second public meeting about the controversial £240 million housing scheme put forward by Kitewood Estates.
John Moore, Kitewood, Laura Calder, Meeting, Mike Dolan 
Developer Mike Dolan boycotted a meeting in the Kings Hall on Monday night after a behind-the-scenes spat with protesters. He had been prepared to face the wrath of objectors to his company’s plans to build 1,000 new homes at Hillborough - but when campaign boss Laura Calder refused to show him her presentation in advance, he quit.
Barrie Gore, Clipping, Dick Eburne, John Moore, Kitewood, Laura Calder, Meeting, Mike Dolan 
About 150 people went to the King's Hall on Monday evening for the "Save Hillborough" campaign meeting.
The recent proposal from developers Kitewood for over 1,000 new homes north of the Thanet Way on the eastern boundary of Herne Bay has worried many residents.
One of the main concerns voiced at the meeting was that the already over-stretched local infrastructure - sewage, transport, education, health and so on - simply wouldn't be able to cope.
Barrie Gore, Blacksole, Dick Eburne, John Moore, Laura Calder, Meeting, Mike Dolan 
