Sevenoaks takes action to protect green belt land

Sevenoaks District Council has taken action to protect a green belt site in Hever, which is being sold for development.

The local authority said it has received tip-offs from residents that the land off Newhouse Farm Lane, Hever, near Edenbridge, is being sold off as individual plots.

However, the site in the green belt and just outside an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and therefore it’s unlikely to be granted planning permission for development.

To ensure the site continues to be protected, the council has served Article 4 Directions today restricting the activities that can normally be carried out without planning permission.

This includes putting up fences, gates or walls, stationing caravans and other temporary uses.

This latest action comes after the Council served Article 4 Direction on sites in Edenbridge (Hever Road) and West Kingsdown (St Clere Hill Road) as they too were being marketed as individual plots for development.

‘We have committed to our residents that we will do everything possible to protect our much-cherished environment,’ said cabinet member for planning, Cllr Julia Thornton.

‘Serving these latest Article 4 Directions clearly demonstrates that we are delivering on this promise.

‘Green belt sites are protected in law and any proposal to build on them is extremely unlikely to be granted planning permission. People considering these sites should be warned they are effectively being offered agricultural land,’ added Cllr Thornton.

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