From Monday 10th July, the government will begin consultation on reducing planning restrictions along the HS1 line.
Whilst restrictions are needed to protect major infrastructure projects from knee-jerk developments or land grabs, with HS1 now 10 years old I believe many in Kent will welcome the move.
There is a potential that up to 14km2 could be released for development; this could enable over 10,000 new homes to be built and may help to increase the level of development at Ebbsfleet and Ashford International as well as smaller stations along the line.
This is a positive move from the government, but I hope that securing social value from any new projects, and integrating existing and new developments, are made top priorities.
A public consultation opens on Monday 10 July 2017 on proposals to reduce planning restrictions along the high speed rail route, known as HS1, between London St Pancras and the Channel Tunnel. As a long-term infrastructure project, HS1 is protected under planning regulations which restrict development alongside or close to it. Known as ‘safeguarding’, the regulations do not prevent development taking place near large-scale schemes like HS1, but do ensure that they allow access to, and protection of, the infrastructure itself.
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