Mystery surrounds plans for protected farmland

A LANDOWNER has submitted plans to remove 120 acres of farmland in Otford from a legally binding agreement.

The proposal for Park Farm off the High Street, put forward by registered landowner Watchingwell Farms, has raised fears it could pave the way for the land to be built on in the future.

Keith Stockman, spokesman for village organisation Residents Against Development In Otford, said: "The Section 106 protects the land from being built on.

"If they're going to have a variation on that it opens it up to be developed."

Section 106 agreements are tools used by planning authorities to enforce certain conditions when granting planning permission.

Permission was granted to build a herdsman's bungalow at Park Farm in 1994.

When the planning authority, Sevenoaks District Council, gave consent it did so by tying the land to the bungalow and ruling the 150-acre site be used for agricultural purposes.

Official documents show Watchingwell Farms has now applied to remove 120 acres – the size of around 60 football pitches – from the agreement to rear an average of 240 beef cattle, leaving the remaining 30 acres to grow hay.

District council spokesman Steve Mandaluff was unable to explain why this was necessary as, on the face of it, a cattle farm would fall within the existing use of agricultural purposes.

He said Watchingwell had to remove the land from the Section 106 agreement this before it could proceed with its plan.

Otford Parish Council chairman Cllr John Allen was not unduly concerned with the application as the land is in the Green Belt, is an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and a Special Landscape Area. In theory these policies should protect it from being built on.

Cllr Allen believed the only piece of land that could be developed was the site of the bungalow itself. But even he was unsure as to why Watchingwell would need to remove the land from the Section 106 agreement. "I don't know why they're trying to take it out," he said.

The Chronicle contacted the agent acting on behalf of Watchingwell Farms, Cripps Harries Hall, but the organisation declined to comment.

The district council is expected to make a decision by April 8.