Wildlife charities have written to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, Angela Rayner, calling on her to step in and remove a controversial planning designation that threatens the future of a nationally important wildlife haven in North Kent. The Swanscombe Peninsula has been the subject of a Development Consent Order since 2014, but campaigners have called on the Secretary of State to use her powers to help end the decade long saga and secure its future by revoking the planning status.
The Swanscombe Peninsula is home to over 2,000 species of invertebrate, including the Critically Endangered Distinguished Jumping Spider, and 82 species of breeding birds, including Nightingales, making it one of the most important breeding bird sites in the South East of England. It is also home to Endangered Man Orchids, Water Voles and Otters. However, it has been under threat from a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP) application for the London Resort theme park- a planning route normally earmarked for major projects like roads and power stations. The wildlife charities say this status is hindering attempts to save it and get support to enact a Vision for the site that was developed together with the local community.
Since being granted permission to be considered as a NSIP, the site’s incredible wildlife value has come to the fore, culminating in its notification as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) in 2021 by Natural England, the Government’s advisor for the natural environment in England. This contributed to the withdrawal of a theme park application in 2022 and growing support for a Vision that would see the retained Swanscombe Peninsula at the heart of a thriving community wildlife haven.
However, with the stagnant NSIP direction still in place, the groundswell of support cannot translate to action and commitment by decision makers. The wildlife charities’ letter to the Secretary of State calls on her to use the powers afforded her under the Planning Act to revoke the controversial status and enable plans for the community and wildlife led Vision for the Swanscombe Peninsula to come to fruition. A previous appeal to the previous Secretary of State, Michael Gove, failed to elicit a response and campaigners think the passing of the 10th anniversary of the decision calls for drastic action.
Jamie Robins, Programmes Manager at Buglife says, “We have known for years that the site is a haven for wildlife, but the threat of a theme park continues to hang over it, leaving the community uncertain over the future of their much-loved green space, year after year. After a decade of uncertainty the time has come for the Secretary of State to remove this unnecessary and damaging planning status, so that we can take the steps to save it.
“The Swanscombe Peninsula is a unique site, home to thousands of species of animal and plant and an unrivalled green space for the local community, with the potential to be a nature park accessible to all. We are in a nature crisis and the Government has committed to protecting 30% of the UK for wildlife. We need to defend nature and to start by protecting SSSI sites like Swanscombe Peninsula once and for all and helping to make the Vision for the Swanscombe Peninsula a reality”
Buglife, CPRE Kent, Kent Wildlife Trust and the RSPB have been working together for a number of years, together with local community groups to save the Swanscombe Peninsula, calling for it to be notified as a SSSI, engaging with the complex planning system, working with the local Save Swanscombe Peninsula community group and developing the Vision for the Swanscombe Peninsula.
Main Image Credit: Swanscombe © Julie Preston
