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Blog for Teynham and Highsted Park Planning Applications
Find more information at https://teynham-highsted.org/
Blog for Teynham and Highsted Planning Applications update
The Highsted Park Public Enquiry started on the 11th March at Swale House, Sittingbourne.
Week 1 started with Opening Statements given by barristers for all interested parties: the
Applicant, Swale Borough Council, The Duchy of Cornwall, National Highways and KCC.
Simon Bell the barrister for the parishes groups ‘The Action Group’ and ‘Five Parishes group’
presented our opening statement.
Week 2 starting 19th March covered Landscape.
Week 3 starting 9th April covered Built Heritage and Heritage including evidence from The
Action Group and Five Parishes Heritage consultant: Dr Nicholas Doggett. Also evidence from
Paul Townson concerning Frognal Farmhouse on behalf of the Action group.
Week 4 and 5 starting 29th April covered Ancient Woodland and Ecology, and Archaeology.
Friday 9th May there was a Public Rights of Way round table session.
Week 6 starting 13h May included Air Quality round table session and draft S106
agreements.
15th and 16th May were ‘Third Party’ days where members of the public could speak, 32
different people and groups spoke.
Week 7 starting 3rd June included two ‘accompanied site visits’. 3rd June to walk the route of
the Northern Relief Road and visit to Frognal Farmhouse. 4th June to walk the route of the
Southern Relief Road plus a visit to the Science Park. The inspector and representatives from
all parties attended.
Week 7 and 8 covered Highways. Mr. Bruce Bamber, a Transport Consultant spoke on behalf
of the Action Group.
Week 9 starting 24th June continued with Highways plus Socio-Economic.
Week 10 starting 30th June covered Socio-Economic and Viability,
Week 11 starting 15th July covered Highways Costs
Week 12 starting 22nd July covered Highways Costs, Housing and Affordable Housing,
Planning, Community Issues. Plus a site visit to Bexon Court, Highsted Chalk Pit and Shooting
Box Nursery on 25th July.
25th July finished for a Summer break.
Thursday 2nd October The Public Enquiry resumes.
Week 13 covers Planning and Community Issues. SBC and Lynsted Parish Council Chairman
spoke on behalf of the Action Group on Community Issues.
Week 14 starting on 6th October covered Planning and S106
Week 15 starting 27th October covers Conditions and Closing submissions.
The Highsted Park Public Enquiry finished on 31st October 2025.
March 2026 Update.
The Inspectors Report will not be submitted until June at the earliest, It will then go to the
Minister of Housing for a decision.
July 2026 Update. Taken from the 5 Parishes Oppisition Group on Facebook 1st July 2026
Highsted Park Update – Inspector’s Report Submitted.
Today we received confirmation from the Planning Inspectorate that the Inspector’s Report has now been submitted to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government.
This marks another major milestone in a process that began when the applications were called in by the Secretary of State on 5 November 2024.
Since then, there has been:
* A Public Inquiry lasting many months, with evidence heard over 54 sitting days.
* Hundreds of documents submitted and scrutinised.
* Extensive written representations, expert evidence and legal submissions.
* Post-inquiry work, including closing submissions, final Section 106 agreements and additional information requested by the Inspector.
After considering all of the evidence, the Inspector has now completed her report and submitted it to the Secretary of State.
The Planning Inspectorate has confirmed that the Secretary of State’s decision will be issued on or before 30 September 2026.
STOP HIGHSTED PARK
We would like to thank everyone who has supported the campaign throughout this process. Whether you attended inquiry sessions, submitted representations, volunteered your time, donated towards expert evidence, or helped keep the community informed, every contribution has made a difference.
The Five Parishes Group has worked alongside our parish councils and professional advisers to ensure the voices of local communities were fully heard.
We will continue to keep everyone updated and will share the Secretary of State’s decision as soon as it is announced.
Thank you for your continued support.
Five Parishes Group