News release

Highways Agency puts brake on KIG planning application

The Kent International Gateway application will not be decided until the applicant provides more complete and accurate information.

The Highways Agency has demanded more information from KIG about its proposal for a rail/road freight interchange on a 112 hectares site at junction 8 of the M20 at Bearsted. The agency, part of the Department for Transport, has made an Article 14 Direction which means that it will get more of the information it needs to assess the traffic and roads implications of the KIG planning application.

The planning application already consists of more than 20 documents including a large two volume environmental impact assessment. The new information is in addition to the extra information previously requested by Maidstone Borough Council. Maidstone council’s Director of Operations, Alison Broom, has welcomed the intervention: “This information will allow the Highways Agency to provide us with a full assessment of the likely impact of the proposal on traffic and roads.”

The direction has put the application on hold and it will not be decided by the original deadline of 13 February. The council will reopen the official consultation with residents and other consultees if the new information from KIG changes or adds substantial details to the proposals. More than 3,500people have already commented on the application.

When the new information has been received it will be added to the other application documents on Maidstone council’s website - digitalmaidstone.co.uk - look for the KIG link on the home page. The information will also be added to the application documents which are available for inspection at the Town Hall, at the council's Maidstone House - King Street office, libraries and from the parish councils in the areas most directly affected by the proposal.

Maidstone council's planning committee will still decide the planning application unless it is ‘called in’ by the Secretary of State for the Department of Communities and Local Government or unless the applicant appeals because the council hasn’t decided the application within a new timetable, yet to be set. If the planning committee refuses the application the applicant can appeal to the Secretary of State.

Date:

23 January 2008

Reference:

RJA/080112