Issue details

Note:  This decision no longer meets the requirement for a key decision so is withdrawn. (18 Sept 2018)

Harrietsham is identified in the emerging Maidstone Borough Local Plan as a rural service centre suitable for new housing development. The majority of the existing settlement is located to the north of the A20 corridor, whereas all 3 of the new housing development sites are to the south of the A20.  During 2014/15 JMP Transport Consultants, working under a commission to Maidstone Borough Council, produced an outline design and costing for a scheme to narrow the A20 carriageway, create new footways and pedestrian crossing points and lower the speed limit from 40mph to 30mph with new gateway features at each end of the village.  The construction costs were estimated by JMP at £1,105,189.  The key aim of the scheme is to reduce the severance effect of the A20 and improve permeability between the new development sites and the existing housing and village centre.  MBC has granted planning permissions to the housing sites on the basis that each makes proportionate S106 contributions to the Council.  Payments will then be passed to Kent County Council to implement the scheme.   To keep disruption to a minimum, the intention is that the scheme would be implemented in its entirety once all of the contributions have been received, rather than as a phased construction.  MBC have now received a payment of £403k from the first site to reach its trigger point and a further payment is now due.  Consequently KCC now has the necessary funding in place to begin to progress the scheme through design.

The scheme has been the subject of a resident petition that was submitted at the 12^th July 2017 meeting of the Maidstone Joint Transportation Board, which urges the authorities to ensure that elements of the scheme are in place prior to developments being occupied.

This key decision seeks approval to review the outline design, including updated costs, and to commence detailed design work with a view to construction once the final contributions have been received.  It is envisaged that public engagement on the scheme layout will be carried out during 2017/18, a report will be presented to Maidstone JTB to advise on feedback and potential amendments including any related mitigation measures.

The scheme meets KCC policy objectives of supporting existing businesses and encouraging economic activity with housing growth and job creation by reducing congestion and improving infrastructure and accessibility.