We write on behalf of our client, U+I Group Plc (“U+I”), in response to the consultation on Sevenoaks District Council’s (“SDC”) Draft Local Plan (July 2018).
U+I has a long term interest in Sevenoaks, having acquired the Swanley Square Shopping Centre in 2004 (the Site). In line with SDC’s early masterplan vision for Swanley, U+I has sought to regenerate the centre and adjoining land, introduce with a view to improve the experience of the second largest town centre in the District and deliver new homes for Swanley.
U+I welcomes the opportunity to comment on the Draft Local Plan and supports the continued allocation of the site in line with the current Housing and Mixed Use Allocation in the adopted Allocations and Development Management Plan (ADMP)(ref. H2(c): Swanley Centre, Nightingale Way, Swanley). U+I is encouraged that the Draft Local Plan identifies the site (at Appendix 2) as having a capacity to accommodate new homes, however the Council are underestimating the sites capacity as a town centre location. As directed within the updated National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) (July 2018), town centres/brownfield land should be identified to deliver a significant number of homes and thus reduce growing pressures on green field and ultimately Green Belt sites.
U+I’s comments on the Draft Local Plan are set out below. For clarity, suggested tracked changes to draft policy wording is provided at Appendix 1 of this letter and comments have been made in light of the recently published new NPPF.
Please see attached for more information. |