The Ashford Council Planning Committee was scheduled to convene to consider a range of planning applications and related matters. Among the key items for discussion were the proposed retention of the Sevington Inland Border Facility, and an outline application for residential development on land north of Kennington Road.

Here's a summary of the topics the committee intended to discuss:

Sevington Inland Border Facility

The committee was scheduled to discuss a Crown Development Application for the Sevington Inland Border Facility. The application sought permission for the retention of existing buildings, parking, entry lanes, refrigerated semi-trailers, site infrastructure and ongoing use of the site as an Inland Border Facility and Border Control Post, operating 24/7.

The report pack included a proposed consultation response to the Planning Inspectorate, recommending that while the council should not formally object to the proposal, it should seek improvements through further submissions. These included:

• An enhanced soft landscaping scheme.
• Implementation of a Landscape and Ecological Management Plan.
• Securing biodiversity net gain.
• An updated Staff Travel Plan.
• Mitigation for queuing issues on the A20.
• A detailed Lighting Mitigation Plan.
• An updated Noise Impact Assessment.
• A Site Management Plan to mitigate impacts on air quality.

The consultation response also recommended that the Planning Inspectorate should ensure that a financial contribution is secured for upgrades to St Mary's Church.

The report pack noted that Historic England had commented that the Inland Border Facility causes a high level of harm to the significance of the grade I listed Church of St Mary by greatly compromising the church's remaining rural setting.

Land North of Kennington Road, Willesborough

The committee was scheduled to consider an outline application for up to 180 dwellings on land north of Kennington Road, with all matters reserved except for access. The application proposed associated infrastructure, engineering works, and open space.

The Planning Committee had previously deferred the application to obtain additional information on highway impacts, accessibility, and impacts on the Green Corridor¹. The report pack included an update addressing these concerns, with a recommendation to permit the application subject to conditions and a section 106 agreement.

The report pack noted that KCC Public Rights of Way and Access Service had raised no objection subject to securing a financial contribution towards PRoW enhancement works and a PRoW Management Plan by condition.

Other Applications

• The committee was to discuss application PA/2024/1419 for the demolition of an existing dwelling and erection of a replacement farm dwelling at Owley Lodge. The recommendation was to refuse the application due to the excessive size and bulk of the proposed dwelling and its impact on the High Weald National Landscape².
• The committee was also scheduled to consider an update report which provided updated information to reflect changes in circumstances and officer advice since the reports on the agenda were prepared.

Appeals Report

The committee was scheduled to receive an information report summarising appeal decisions received between 1 January 2025 and 30 June 2025. The report noted that 20.6% of appeals were allowed within the reported period.

The report also included a breakdown of housing appeal decisions compared by location within or outside the Stour catchment³.