Covers Farm – KCC Planning application outcome July 2024

16^th July 2024

Covers Farm – Planning application 

At Kent County Council’s meeting on Monday 15th July, the Planning Committee voted against the planning application for the restoration of the Covers Farm quarry.  This is the outcome that Westerham Town Council (WTC), various neighbouring councils, Keep Westerham Green and our Kent County Councillor, Nick Chard, have been working towards for six years.  While WTC supports the need to restore the quarry, WTC could not endorse the applicant’s proposed restoration method.  The restoration must respect the Green Belt and Kent Downs National Landscape and must minimise local disruption.  This application failed to meet any of these criteria.  Independent engineering advice confirmed that the scheme was over-engineered and that it was unnecessary to bring in 800,000 cubic meters of infill.  However, the requirement to restore the quarry remains, and the applicant may appeal.  If the applicant does not appeal, then they must either revert to the original 1983 Planning Application restoration scheme or apply for planning permission with a different proposal.  As a council, we will continue to monitor the situation and to respond accordingly.