Teynham and Highsted Park Planning Applications
27 June 2025
The Public Enquiry started on 11th March 2025.
To keep updated go to The Teynham and Highsted Action Groups
webpage at: https://teynham-highsted.org/
8th February 2025
There is a public session at Doddington Village Hall on 2nd March concerning the ‘Highsted Park’ planning applications from 11am to 1pm.
4th February 2025
30th January 2025
Help Us Fight Highsted Park – Crowdfunding Campaign Launch Tonight!
Tonge Parish Council have joined with Teynham, Doddington, Lynsted with Kingsdown and Newnham Parish Councils to form the Teynham & Highsted Community Action Group. Our aim is to fight the Highsted Park planning applications (8,400 houses).
Our group is launching a crowdfunding campaign tonight to help fund our fight against the Highsted Park development. We need funds to pay for representation at the public enquiry.
How You Can Help:
Donate – Every contribution makes a difference.
Share – Please pass this on to friends, family, and neighbours.
Stay Updated – Follow our website for the latest on the Public Inquiry.
GoFundMe Link: https://www.gofundme.com/…/help-us-fight-the-highsted…)
Public Inquiry Updates: https://teynham-highsted.org/
Thank you for your support!
18th December 2024
As you may know, the Secretary of State has ‘called in’ the Highsted Park planning applications.
Highsted park includes the following two planning applications:
Application number: 21/503906/EIOUT Land to the west of Teynham:
This includes 1250 houses on land between Teynham and Tonge/Bapchild, north of the A2.
Plus the completion of the Northern relief road which would cross over the railway line travelling south to reach the A2 with a spur going through part of the Tonge Conservation area.
Application number: 21/503914/EIOUT Land south and east of Sittingbourne.
This is on the south side of the A2 and would include up to 7,150 houses. Plus a southern relief road running from the A2 to the M2 where there would be a new junction on the motorway.
As ‘Highsted Park’ has been called in, it means the Planning Inspector will thoroughly review the plans and after a public enquiry will then make a recommendation to the Secretary of State, who will decide the final outcome. The public enquiry is set to begin in March 2025 and is expected to last 12 weeks.
Tonge Parish Council are continuing to work with other parish councils (Teynham, Lynsted with Kingsdown, Doddington and Newnham) to represent community views on the Highsted Park planning applications at the public enquiry.
We’re pleased to announce that our group of Parish Councils has been granted Rule 6 status. This gives us the right to participate formally in the inquiry process.
Together, the parishes, will be known as TEYNHAM & HIGHSTED COMMUNITY ACTION.
Over the coming weeks, there will be case management meetings where the barristers, planning inspector, and other parties agree on how the inquiry will be run.
We aim to provide you with more updates, and outline opportunities for you to contribute to the campaign/community action, during January 2025.
2nd November 2024
The SBC Planning Committee will consider the Highsted Park planning applications from 6pm on Thursday 7 November.
Watch the debate online or in person (subject to space) at Swale House.
Further details via the following link.
7th October 2024
Tonge Parish Council have submitted a further response to Quinn estates updated planning applications for the Highsted Park developments. Application numbers: 21/503906/EIOUT and 21/503914/EIOUT to build 1250 houses between Teynham and Tonge/Bapchild and 7,150 houses on the south side the A2.
We have joined with the parishes of Teynham, Doddington and Lynsted with Kingsdown to employ a transport consultant to produce a further response to the latest documents from Quinn Estates. This report has been submitted to Swale Planning and can be seen on the Swale Planning Portal.
20th September 2024
UPDATE!
Swale Borough Council has received updated planning applications for the Highsted Park developments.
Highsted Park consists of two applications:
Application number: 21/503906/EIOUT Land to the west of Teynham:
This includes 1250 houses on land between Teynham and Tonge/Bapchild. North of the A2.
Plus the completion of the Northern relief road which would cross over the railway line travelling south and then through part of the Tonge Conservation area to reach the A2.
Application number: 21/503914/EIOUT Land south and east of Sittingbourne.
This is on the south side of the A2 and would include up to 7,150 houses.
Plus a southern relief road running from the A2 to the M2 where there would be a new junction on the motorway.
You can view the updated proposals by going to the Swale Planning Portal using the planning application numbers.
Swale Borough Council are taking comments until 5th October.
You can submit comments via the Swale Planning portal or by emailing them to
planningcomments@midkent.gov.uk including the planning application numbers.
22nd July 2024
In response to the two major planning applications known jointly as Highsted Park, Tonge Parish Council have been working with Teynham, Doddington and Lynsted with Kingsdown Parish Councils.
As these applications have huge implications for all of our parishes we will be submitting two detailed reports which have been written with the help of a planning consultant and a transport consultant. We will be submitting these reports to Mid Kent planning very shortly and they will then be available to read on the Planning Portal.
These relate to the following planning applications:
Application number: 21/503906/EIOUT Land to the west of Teynham:
This includes 1250 houses on land between Teynham and Tonge/Bapchild, north of the A2.
Plus the completion of the Northern relief road which would cross over the railway line travelling south to reach the A2 with a spur going through part of the Tonge Conservation area.
Application number: 21/503914/EIOUT Land south and east of Sittingbourne.
This is on the south side of the A2 and would include up to 7,150 houses. Plus a southern relief road running from the A2 to the M2 where there would be a new junction on the motorway.
12th April 2024
If you have not already done so please respond to Swale Borough Council’s consultations on the two major planning application known jointly as Highsted Park:
Application number: 21/503906/EIOUT Land to the west of Teynham:
This includes 1250 houses on land between Teynham and Tonge/Bapchild. North of the A2.
Plus the completion of the Northern relief road which would cross over the railway line travelling south and then through part of the Tonge Conservation area to reach the A2.
Application number: 21/503914/EIOUT Land south and east of Sittingbourne.
This is on the south side of the A2 and would include up to 7,150 houses. Plus a southern relief road running from the A2 to the M2 where there would be a new junction on the motorway.
Swale are still taking comments.
You can email comments by sending them to planningcomments@midkent.gov.uk including the reference number.
Please do this, as if approved these applications will change our lives forever.
29th March 2024
Quinn Estates Planning Applications. (known as Highsted Park).
Tonge PC and Teynham PC have arranged a drop in session at Teynham Community Hall,
Station Road on Saturday 6th April between 10am and 1pm.
There will be an opportunity to view the updated plans and maps for the proposed Highsted Park planning applications (both North and South).
North is the application to build 1250 houses between Teynham and Tonge/Bapchild as well as complete the Northern relief Road.
South is an application to build 7,150 houses and a Southern Relief Road leading to a new junction on the M2 motorway.
Please come along as this has huge implications for the area.
There will be parish councillors and Swale Borough Councillors available.
14th March 2024
Swale Borough Council are currently consulting again on two major planning applications,
both of which will have huge implications for the parish of Tonge.
Application number: 21/503906/EIOUT Land to the west of Teynham:
This includes 1250 houses on land between Teynham and Tonge/Bapchild. North of the A2.
Plus the completion of the Northern relief road which would cross over the railway line travelling south and then through part of the Tonge Conservation area to reach the A2.
Application number: 21/503914/EIOUT Land south and east of Sittingbourne.
This is on the south side of the A2 and would include up to 7,150 houses. Plus a southern relief road running from the A2 to the M2 where there would be a new junction on the motorway.
This is the third time this application has been submitted since 2021, this time with a number of changes.
Please look at the applications, which you can do by looking on the Swale Planning Portal, using the above numbers.
Many people did put in their comments previously but it is important that you summit them again otherwise it will be assumed that you accept the changes that have been made.
Please do this, as if approved these applications will change our lives forever.
The deadline is 6th April 2024.
15th December 2022
As you will remember Quinn Estates submitted a proposal to extend the Northern Relief Road over the railway line, through the countryside, to join up to the M2 south of the A2. (The Southern Relief Road).
Initially, they requested permission to build 1250 houses between Bapchild and Teynham, and 9000 houses through to the M2.
This proposal would bring thousands of cars along this major road, behind Heron Fields, to and from Sheppey; and subsequently to and from the M2.
The noise and pollution would be unacceptable.
Many of you objected to their initial plans but there’s a type of loophole when applying for planning permission. Quinn have tweaked some of their original proposals (including slightly reducing their housing numbers) and resubmitted them.
Residents may be lulled into a false sense of security thinking that they have already commented BUT THIS IS NOT HOW IT WORKS! We need to write again and say, “These revisions do not address our concerns, and previous objections still stand.”
Otherwise, it is presumed that you’re happy with the new plans! Of course, if you’re happy to agree with their proposal, you can say so.
There are 2 submission 21/503906/EIOUT AND 21/503914/EIOUT. We need you to comment on both.
To get more information you can look on the Swale planning portal at pa.midkent.uk using the planning application numbers. You can submit your comments via the portal or
email your comments to, planningcomments@midkent.gov.uk
or write to MidKent Planning Support, Maidstone House, King Street, Maidstone, ME15 6JQ
Deadline is 1st January 2023
9th September 2021
A leaflet ‘Protect Land West of Teynham’ will be distributed to all households in the Tonge Parish area during September. This leaflet outlines our concerns about two planning major applications submitted to Swale Council by Quinn Developments.
The applications are 21/503906/EIOUT (Teynham & Bapchild) and
21/503914/EIOUT (Bapchild, Rodmersham & Highsted) which jointly are known as ‘Highsted Park’.
The leaflet includes a map showing the extent of the applications and ways to find out more information and respond to Swale Council.