Pressure on the South East

 The government’s proposals on housing, announced last week, have major implications for the South East - reflected in a letter from five Home Counties Leaders, including me, in this morning’s Daily Telegraph. (The link is to the complete Telegraph letters page, but you can also find the text on my Facebook page).

Among our concerns is that, as in the case of ULEZ, London decisions (or non-decisions, in this case the failure to build anywhere near its housing needs) spill over into our counties and communities. The relationship with London needs to be one of mutual benefit, not of Kent (and other Home Counties) being on the receiving end of London overspill.

Focusing more locally, the requirement of Sevenoaks under the new plans is for a 58% uplift in housing numbers - and that is on the Local Plan currently being developed, which was itself a huge uplift on past plans and housing delivery. The implications, including in relation to Pedham Place, are clear and worrying.