Developer Hodson wants to withdraw £30m for A28 road work. Council insists on payment for the large housing project.
Hodson Developments is building Chilmington Green, a large housing development planned to have 5,750 homes. Hodson wants to change its promises to avoid building infrastructure and facilities.
The A28 Chart Road gets very congested, especially near the Matalan roundabout. Kent County Council (KCC) held an inquiry and told Hodson the roadwork must happen, or the project stops. Hodson wants to drop other obligations too, totaling about £50 million. This includes the A28 project.
The A28 project would add a dual carriageway from Tank roundabout to Matalan roundabout, easing traffic. In 2017, Hodson made a legal agreement called a Section 106 Agreement (S106). They agreed to pay when 400 homes were ready, and they are almost at that point now.
Hodson’s lawyer said upgrades are not viable now and they want to cut costs, removing “unnecessary expenditure.” The development has faced several delays involving utilities and COVID. The lawyer stated the project now loses money and it would be disastrous if the project fails.
He is asking the council to help unlock investment, hoping to enable investors to come forward. Hodson says raising the funds is not possible and the road project is too expensive. Hodson’s agreement said they would pay up to £32.7m, covering construction and other costs.
Hodson also got approval for 665 new homes at Possingham Farm, next to Chilmington Green. The council first refused, but an inspector overruled them. The inspector said the A28 upgrades would help traffic.
KCC views the A28 upgrades as essential. If Hodson withdraws funds, KCC can’t pay for it, and the whole project could be scrapped. KCC’s lawyer said the agreement is critical to making the development sustainable.
Removing the A28 plan changes everything, as Chilmington Green needs the road . Without it, the network will suffer. KCC has no other way to fund the road, so if Hodson doesn’t pay, the project can’t proceed. Letting the development continue without the A28 is not acceptable.
The roadwork was supposed to start in 2018. Trees were cleared, but delays stopped progress, and the project might not happen at all. Hodson wants to change other spending too, like schools.
In total, Hodson seeks changes in 33 commitment areas. KentOnline found Hodson wants to avoid paying at least £52.5m, covering infrastructure and community facilities, and the final amount could be higher. Construction of a new school started last February and should open for the next school year. The inquiry will last six days, after which the planning inspector will make a final call.