At the end of 2024 an independent social researcher, Rachael Reilly, carried out a participatory social research study in the villages of Tyler Hill, Blean and Rough Common. The aim of the research was to listen to the voices of local residents, campaigners and community leaders to understand what is driving their concerns and the impact of the development proposal on their lives.
Too often the views of local communities are drowned out in technical planning processes and ‘consultation’ is restricted to the rigid confines of the statutory planning system. Residents who do raise their voices are dismissed by politicians and the media as ‘nimbys’, ‘blockers’ and ‘naysayers’ who hold up developments and stall economic growth and there has been little attempt to understand their viewpoint and perspective. This report aims to present an alternative perspective to this narrative.
New research into the impact of large-scale house-building in the countryside, using an in-depth case study in Canterbury, Kent, has found that local residents feel deeply negatively impacted by house-building proposals, with many saying it had impacted their health and well-being, and some even saying it had eroded their faith in local and national democratic processes and institutions.
The research also shows that residents feel a wealth of local knowledge is underutilised and overlooked throughout the Local Plan process used by local councils to create strategic allocations for housing.
64% of respondents to the social survey said that the development proposals had impacted their health and well-being. This included the initial shock of finding out about the development plans; constant worry and anxiety about the proposed development, including sleepless nights; fears that the development would impact their physical health – both through loss of outdoor recreation space and the increased air, noise and light pollution, especially for those with pre-existing health conditions such as asthma; a sense of helplessness and powerlessness over decisions affecting their lives; and stress and uncertainty about the future. Several people described the development plans as “life-changing”.
28% of respondents to the social survey said that the development proposals had made them change their plans for the future When asked how their plans for the future had changed, 62 out of 100 respondents said that they were considering moving away from the area, something they had never contemplated before, including people who had lived there all their lives and people who had chosen to move there for retirement.
Participants described a profound sense of disempowerment and disillusionment with the Local Plan consultation process Most participants said they had no prior information or knowledge about the proposed development site until the publication of the draft Local Plan in March 2024 and described a “sense of shock” when they first heard about the plans. The majority of participants in the study were dissatisfied with how Canterbury City Council and the University of Kent had consulted with local communities.
To read the full report, go to this page on Kent Wildlife Trust’s website or this page on CPRE Kent’s website.