Planning Inquiry - Kent International Gateway

In October 2007 an outline planning application was made for a 'strategic rail freight interchange', to be known as Kent International Gateway. The proposed site extended for two and a half kilometres from north of Bearsted to Junction eight of the M20. In an amended form the proposal was for a rail-road freight terminal and nearly 300,000 square metres of warehousing. The site is greenfield land overlooked by the Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. 

We objected to the proposal as a statutory consultee on major planning applications and as the Kent Highways Authority. A Planning Inquiry into the proposal began on 13 October 2009 and concluded in December. Our officers gave evidence in support of Maidstone Borough Council on strategic policy, highways, Public Rights of Way and archaeology.  

We argued that there were major objections to the proposal that override the applicant's claim that there was a need for a rail freight interchange. The proposal would have a severe impact on views from the setting of the Kent Downs, and there would be a cumulative impact on the local community of Bearsted. We believed the appeal site was in the wrong location to achieve significant transfer of road freight to rail. The additional traffic generated would have a severe impact on Maidstone’s highway network.

The Planning Inspector agreed with the key elements of the case put forward by us, Maidstone Borough Council and other objectors, and recommended that the appeal be dismissed. On 5 August 2010 the Secretary of State agreed with the Inspector and refused planning permission. 

View the decision letter (PDF, 79k) and Inspector's report (PDF, 1.88mb)

Read our press release.