Kingsway withdraws... then announces plans to resubmit
Just when we thought we were about to enter the next stage of the planning process, Kingsway unexpectedly withdrew its planning application—just one day before the Planning Inspectorate was due to decide whether it would accept it for examination.
At first, this looked like very good news. However, Kingsway has since confirmed on its website that it intends to revise the application and submit it again. So, while this isn’t necessarily the end of the proposal, it does mean there is now an opportunity for many of the issues raised by residents and statutory bodies to be properly addressed before any new application is submitted.
Why did Kingsway withdraw?
Following the withdrawal, the Planning Inspectorate published a detailed letter explaining the concerns it had identified during its review of the application.
In simple terms, the Inspectorate concluded that the application wasn’t ready.
It highlighted missing wildlife surveys, concerns about archaeology and heritage, inconsistencies within the application documents, and questioned whether local people had been given enough information to properly understand the proposals and comment on them. The Inspectorate also indicated that the application may not have contained enough information for an examination to be completed within the statutory timetable.
Many of these are the same concerns that residents, parish councils and local authorities have been raising throughout the consultation process.
Read the letter in full on the Planning Inspectorate site
What happens next?
One of the most significant points in the Planning Inspectorate’s letter is that Kingsway should consider carrying out further consultation before submitting a revised application. It is likely that this will be with local authorities only.
However, if Kingsway prepares new surveys, updated environmental information or changes its plans, local communities should also have the opportunity to see that information and comment on it before another application is submitted.
KSCA will continue to call for an open, transparent and meaningful consultation process that gives everyone the chance to understand the revised proposals and have their say.
Thank you
Finally, thank you to everyone who has supported the campaign over the past two years. Whether you’ve attended meetings, volunteered, donated, written responses, displayed posters or simply kept friends and neighbours informed, every contribution has helped.
The Planning Inspectorate’s letter shows that careful scrutiny and well-informed community engagement really do matter.
KSCA will continue to keep you updated as the situation develops. If Kingsway submits a revised application, we’ll be ready to help our communities understand what’s changed and ensure local voices continue to be heard.