Fencing Work in the Field Opposite the Church

The field situated opposite the church lies wholly within the civil parish of Otham. Notwithstanding this, Downswood Parish Council maintains a vigilant and systematic oversight of all planning activity in and around the Downswood area, and we remain in regular dialogue with Otham Parish Council on matters of shared concern.

Downswood Parish Council receives, on a monthly basis, the full schedule of new and approved planning applications issued by Maidstone Borough Council (MBC) for the entire borough. It can be formally confirmed that no planning applications whatsoever have been submitted in respect of Church Road or the field opposite the church.

During the course of this week, fencing works have been observed on the land. These works are not indicative of development activity. The owners of the adjoining woodland are undertaking routine health‑and‑safety compliance measures, specifically the installation of fencing to prevent public access and thereby mitigate the risk of injury from falling trees or large branches. The woodland is privately owned, and the landowners are discharging their statutory duty of care.

To address any concerns, it is important to note that the land opposite the church is subject to multiple, overlapping layers of statutory and policy protection, including:

• It lies within a designated Conservation Area, imposing heightened heritage and landscape safeguards.
• It is not allocated for development within the Maidstone Local Plan.
• It is expressly referenced within Otham’s Neighbourhood Plan, a document that carries statutory weight under the Localism Act 2011.

While these protections do not create an absolute legal prohibition on development, they do establish significant procedural, evidential, and financial barriers for any prospective developer. Any proposal would be required to demonstrate exceptional justification, address heritage and landscape constraints, and satisfy stringent design, environmental, and policy tests. These are not trivial thresholds.

Maidstone Borough Council has provided reassurance that all statutory processes will be rigorously applied and enforced in the event that any planning application is ever submitted.

Crucially, because the land is included within Otham’s Neighbourhood Plan, Otham Parish Council becomes a statutory consultee for any future planning application affecting the site. This ensures that the parish has a formal, influential, and legally recognised role in the decision‑making process.

For absolute clarity, Downswood Parish Council reiterates that, based on the most recent monthly notifications from MBC, no planning applications have been received relating to Church Road or the field opposite the church.