Go ahead given for Otterpool Park Garden Town

A new beautifully designed garden town is set to be created in the heart of the Kent countryside after outline planning permission was granted by Folkestone & Hythe District Council.

Otterpool Park will provide 8,500 homes, a new town centre, shops, leisure, educational and cultural facilities and employment land.

The new community will offer more than 9,000 new job opportunities centred on the former Folkestone Racecourse site at Westenhanger Station. It will also celebrate the cultural heritage of Westenhanger Castle positioned within an enhanced central park.

The garden town will bring a range of market and affordable homes, age restricted homes, sheltered housing and care villages. It will also provide a range of community facilities including primary and secondary schools, nurseries, health centres, leisure and business, commercial and retail opportunities.

Improvements to the existing road network, the creation of pedestrian, road and cycleways within the site and to public rights of way off-site have all been promised.

Habitat retention and creation on the site is extensive, with approximately 50% of the site allocated as accessible green space. The development will deliver a significant biodiversity net gain of 20%.

A council spokesperson said, “The creation of a well-designed new garden town at Otterpool Park, with all the necessary infrastructure, will fulfil the housebuilding requirements for the district for the next decade.

“Residents across the district will benefit as smaller villages will be protected from inappropriate incremental development.

“The revenue generated by Otterpool Park will also benefit residents and businesses across the whole district by providing the council with investment funds to support local services over many years to come.”

The outline application was submitted by Otterpool Park LLP – a delivery vehicle established by the council. This application has been approved subject to the completion of satisfactory s106 agreements. These agreements will secure the necessary commitments to ensure that the development is successful.

The meeting can be watched back in full online. All documents can also be viewed on the council’s planning portal.