Kent International Gateway
Encyclopedia
The Kent International Gateway was a proposed logistics hub and strategic rail-freight interchange (SRFI) next to the M20 motorway
east of Maidstone
. The project was controversial because it was a major development in a Special Landscape Area
close to several historic villages. Following a public inquiry
that ended in December 2009, the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government
rejected the proposal on 5 August 2010.
, the M20 motorway
and the High Speed 1 rail line. Comprising in excess of 112.3 hectares (1,123,000 m²) near junction 8 of the M20, it was intended that the site would cut motorway freight traffic by utilising the rail network and creating a distribution hub in a key location between the Kent coast (with its proximity to continental Europe
) and London
which is approximately 45 miles to the north-west. In addition to operating up to 13 freight trains a day (removing an estimated 60 million kilometres of HGV journeys from the roads each year), the site would look to employ 3,500 people.
The proposal was aligned with the Department for Transport
's (and the previous Strategic Rail Authority
's) strategic rail freight interchange policy which seeks to encourage the removal of road freight in favour of rail-based solutions. The proposed development was also broadly in line with the Labour government's Thames Gateway
strategy which is intended to promote business and residential expansion from London into north Kent and Essex
(however the strategy is principally focused on the borough of Swale
, a few miles to the north).
Approximately 40 Members of Parliament, the majority of whom represent London constituencies, have indicated their approval of the proposed development as a means of reducing freight congestion on the M20 and M25
motorways.
The planning application was rejected by the local planning authority, Maidstone Borough Council
, and a public inquiry was held into Axa's appeal of this decision between 13 October 2009 and 23 December 2009. Following the public inquiry and review of the resulting Inspector's report, the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, Eric Pickles
, rejected the appeal and refused planning permission for the development on 5 August 2010.
in the lee of the Kent Downs
(an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
) and with close proximity to the historic medieval villages of Bearsted
, Thurnham
, Hollingbourne
and Lenham
, the project has received extensive criticism and objections from local residents and Members of Parliament
. The Campaign to Protect Rural England was also a key supporter of the local objections. Following a public exhibition, the Kent International Gateway proposal attempted to mitigate the environmental concerns by adjusting its design to reduce the impact of the buildings and allocating one-third of the total site area to landscaping, woodland retention and new wildlife habitats.
In May 2008, the then leader of Kent County Council
, Paul Carter, wrote to the Members of Parliament who had supported the proposal to ask them to reconsider their support on the basis Kent International Gateway had not provided sufficient evidence that the distribution hub was needed or viable. At the same time, the Government's decision in late 2007 to approve the ProLogis Howbury Park rail–freight interchange at Slade Green
, Bexley
was cited by campaigners as evidence that demand for a similar such scheme at Bearsted no longer existed. However some commentators noted that the approval of the Howbury Park development, despite the objections of the local councils and its green belt
location, may yet set a precedent for further Government approvals for green belt development sites in south-east England.
M20 motorway
The M20 is a motorway in Kent, England. It runs from the M25 motorway to Folkestone, providing a link to the Channel Tunnel and the ports at Dover. It is long...
east of Maidstone
Maidstone
Maidstone is the county town of Kent, England, south-east of London. The River Medway runs through the centre of the town linking Maidstone to Rochester and the Thames Estuary. Historically, the river was a source and route for much of the town's trade. Maidstone was the centre of the agricultural...
. The project was controversial because it was a major development in a Special Landscape Area
Special Landscape Area
A Special Landscape Area is a non-statutory conservation designation used by local government in some parts of the United Kingdom to categorise sensitive landscapes which are, either legally or as a matter of policy, protected from development or other man-made influences.The term is commonly used...
close to several historic villages. Following a public inquiry
Public inquiry
A Tribunal of Inquiry is an official review of events or actions ordered by a government body in Common Law countries such as the United Kingdom, Ireland or Canada. Such a public inquiry differs from a Royal Commission in that a public inquiry accepts evidence and conducts its hearings in a more...
that ended in December 2009, the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government
Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government
The Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, is a Cabinet position heading the UK's Department for Communities and Local Government....
rejected the proposal on 5 August 2010.
Proposal
The proposed development would have been built in a corridor between the village of BearstedBearsted
Bearsted is an ancient village and civil parish in mid-Kent, three miles to the east of Maidstone. The original village site was on the north bank of the River Len, a tributary of the River Medway, and at the foot of the North Downs....
, the M20 motorway
M20 motorway
The M20 is a motorway in Kent, England. It runs from the M25 motorway to Folkestone, providing a link to the Channel Tunnel and the ports at Dover. It is long...
and the High Speed 1 rail line. Comprising in excess of 112.3 hectares (1,123,000 m²) near junction 8 of the M20, it was intended that the site would cut motorway freight traffic by utilising the rail network and creating a distribution hub in a key location between the Kent coast (with its proximity to continental Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
) and London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
which is approximately 45 miles to the north-west. In addition to operating up to 13 freight trains a day (removing an estimated 60 million kilometres of HGV journeys from the roads each year), the site would look to employ 3,500 people.
The proposal was aligned with the Department for Transport
Department for Transport
In the United Kingdom, the Department for Transport is the government department responsible for the English transport network and a limited number of transport matters in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland which are not devolved...
's (and the previous Strategic Rail Authority
Strategic Rail Authority
In existence from 2001 to 2006, the Strategic Rail Authority was a non-departmental public body in the United Kingdom set up under the Transport Act 2000 to provide strategic direction for the railway industry....
's) strategic rail freight interchange policy which seeks to encourage the removal of road freight in favour of rail-based solutions. The proposed development was also broadly in line with the Labour government's Thames Gateway
Thames Gateway
The Thames Gateway is an area of land stretching east from inner east London on both sides of the River Thames and the Thames Estuary. The area, which includes much brownfield land, has been designated a national priority for urban regeneration, taking advantage of the development opportunities...
strategy which is intended to promote business and residential expansion from London into north Kent and Essex
Essex
Essex is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England, and one of the home counties. It is located to the northeast of Greater London. It borders with Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent to the South and London to the south west...
(however the strategy is principally focused on the borough of Swale
Swale
Swale is a local government district with borough status in Kent, England. Its council is based in Sittingbourne. The borough is named after the narrow channel called The Swale, a channel that separates the mainland of Kent from the Isle of Sheppey, and which occupies the central part of the...
, a few miles to the north).
Approximately 40 Members of Parliament, the majority of whom represent London constituencies, have indicated their approval of the proposed development as a means of reducing freight congestion on the M20 and M25
M25 motorway
The M25 motorway, or London Orbital, is a orbital motorway that almost encircles Greater London, England, in the United Kingdom. The motorway was first mooted early in the 20th century. A few sections, based on the now abandoned London Ringways plan, were constructed in the early 1970s and it ...
motorways.
The planning application was rejected by the local planning authority, Maidstone Borough Council
Maidstone (borough)
Maidstone is a local government district with borough status in Kent, England. Its administrative centre is Maidstone which is also the County town of Kent...
, and a public inquiry was held into Axa's appeal of this decision between 13 October 2009 and 23 December 2009. Following the public inquiry and review of the resulting Inspector's report, the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, Eric Pickles
Eric Pickles
Eric Jack Pickles is a British Conservative Party politician. Pickles was appointed Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government of the coalition government headed by Prime Minister David Cameron on 12 May 2010....
, rejected the appeal and refused planning permission for the development on 5 August 2010.
Objections
Since the site is located principally in a designated Special Landscape AreaSpecial Landscape Area
A Special Landscape Area is a non-statutory conservation designation used by local government in some parts of the United Kingdom to categorise sensitive landscapes which are, either legally or as a matter of policy, protected from development or other man-made influences.The term is commonly used...
in the lee of the Kent Downs
Kent Downs
Kent Downs is an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in Kent, England . They are the eastern half of the North Downs and stretch from the London/Surrey borders to the White Cliffs of Dover...
(an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
An Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty is an area of countryside considered to have significant landscape value in England, Wales or Northern Ireland, that has been specially designated by the Countryside Agency on behalf of the United Kingdom government; the Countryside Council for Wales on...
) and with close proximity to the historic medieval villages of Bearsted
Bearsted
Bearsted is an ancient village and civil parish in mid-Kent, three miles to the east of Maidstone. The original village site was on the north bank of the River Len, a tributary of the River Medway, and at the foot of the North Downs....
, Thurnham
Thurnham
- Places :*Thurnham, Kent, a village and parish in Kent, England*Thurnham, Lancashire*Thurnham Castle...
, Hollingbourne
Hollingbourne
Hollingbourne is a village and civil parish in the Maidstone District of Kent, England. The parish is located on the southward slope of the North Downs to the east of the county town, Maidstone. The parish population is almost 1000 persons and includes Hollingbourne village as well as Broad...
and Lenham
Lenham
Lenham is a market village in Kent situated on the southern edge of the North Downs, halfway between Maidstone and Ashford. The picturesque square in the village has two public houses , a couple of restaurants, and a tea-room....
, the project has received extensive criticism and objections from local residents and Members of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
. The Campaign to Protect Rural England was also a key supporter of the local objections. Following a public exhibition, the Kent International Gateway proposal attempted to mitigate the environmental concerns by adjusting its design to reduce the impact of the buildings and allocating one-third of the total site area to landscaping, woodland retention and new wildlife habitats.
In May 2008, the then leader of Kent County Council
Kent County Council
Kent County Council is the county council that governs the majority of the county of Kent in England. It provides the upper tier of local government, below which are 12 district councils, and around 300 town and parish councils. The county council has 84 elected councillors...
, Paul Carter, wrote to the Members of Parliament who had supported the proposal to ask them to reconsider their support on the basis Kent International Gateway had not provided sufficient evidence that the distribution hub was needed or viable. At the same time, the Government's decision in late 2007 to approve the ProLogis Howbury Park rail–freight interchange at Slade Green
Slade Green
Slade Green is a place in south- east London closer to the edge of London located in the London Borough of Bexley. It is a suburban development situated east-southeast of Charing Cross and lying south of the River Thames slightly to the west of the River Darenth and River Cray.-History and...
, Bexley
Bexley
Bexley is an South East London]] in the London Borough of Bexley, London, England. It is located on the banks of the River Cray south of the Roman Road, Watling Street...
was cited by campaigners as evidence that demand for a similar such scheme at Bearsted no longer existed. However some commentators noted that the approval of the Howbury Park development, despite the objections of the local councils and its green belt
Green belt
A green belt or greenbelt is a policy and land use designation used in land use planning to retain areas of largely undeveloped, wild, or agricultural land surrounding or neighbouring urban areas. Similar concepts are greenways or green wedges which have a linear character and may run through an...
location, may yet set a precedent for further Government approvals for green belt development sites in south-east England.