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Planning Application 25/501882/FULL

13 August 2026 — Swale Borough Council’s Planning Committee voted 8–3 this evening to approve the planning application 25/501882/FULL, for 23 homes, on the land north of Lower Road, Teynham.

Paul Townson spoke on behalf of Teynham Parish Council at Swale's Planning Committee where the Parish Council opposed the application. A copy of the speech is shown below.

There is a 3-minute time limit for speaking.

25/501882/FULL 

23 Houses. Land To The North Of Lower Road Teynham Kent ME9 9EQ

Good evening. I’m Paul Townson, Chair of Teynham Parish Council.

Although the scheme has changed, the Parish Council remains firmly opposed to the proposal.

There are three critical areas:

  • Lower Road safety,
  • The pedestrian route, and
  • Car dependency.

1. Lower Road safety

Lower Road is a hazardous rural corridor — narrow, unlit, with restricted sightlines, no continuous footway, and significant level changes. It carries everything from cars and cyclists to HGVs and farm machinery.

Serious and fatal collisions have occurred on Lower Road. At our request, KCC is reviewing road safety because official crash data fails to reflect residents’ lived experience. We strongly question adding further traffic and pedestrian movements to a road with these constraints.

2. The pedestrian route

The proposed 1.2-metre footway is presented as mitigation. We question whether that provides a safe and inclusive route, particularly for wheelchair users, mobility scooters, and parents with buggies.

Crucially, the proposed pathway narrows the carriageway by one-metre. Members must consider the complete pedestrian journey: From the applicant's site, the route involves a significant change in level, before continuing through Selby Court alongside parked and moving vehicles. That is not the safe and convenient connection good planning demands.

3. Car dependency

If walking into the village is difficult, residents will drive. That puts additional vehicles onto Lower Road, compounding the very problem this mitigation claims to solve. We ask members to judge the whole pedestrian journey, not simply 18 metres of pavement.

In Conclusion

I leave you with three questions:

  • Can Lower Road safely absorb these additional movements?
  • Is the complete pedestrian route safe and inclusive for all users?
  • Does this scheme reduce car dependency?

On all three counts, Teynham Parish Council asks you to refuse this application.

Thank you.

—ENDS—