AQA Geography Pre-release Materials 2024: Tudeley Village Different Perspectives (AQA GCSE Geography)
Revision Note
Written by: Bridgette Barrett
Reviewed by: Jenna Quinn
Different Perspectives on the Tudeley Village Development
There are a range of stakeholder views on the proposed development of Tudeley Village including:
National Housing Federation (NHF)
Kent County Council
Home buyers
Property developers and businesses
Campaign for the Protection of Rural England (CPRE)
Local campaign groups such 'Save Capel'
These groups may be for or against the development
The National Housing Federation (NHF)
It is likely that the NHF would support the development
The NHF encourages all government parties to develop a long-term housing plan
The NHF would argue that the development will:
Provide some affordable housing
Help to solve the housing crisis
"We're concerned measures to protect the greenbelt at any cost will prevent otherwise sustainable developments, close to existing communities, from being built."
Kate Henderson, Chief Executive of the NHF
Kent County Council
The house building target set by the government for Kent County Council is 12,000 homes a year
The Tudeley Village development would help them meet this target
Although only 150 houses would be built per year in the first six years
The Council stated that the new development will be:
"...planned and carefully delivered to positively transform the borough and avoid the ad hoc approach so often seen with new development"
Home buyers
Home buyers will be in favour of new housing, particularly if it is affordable housing
"I have a son who has been looking for a two-bedroom home here, and he just can’t afford to live in Tonbridge. He is now looking at places in the Medway towns."
local Tonbridge resident
Property developers
Property developers often prefer to build on greenfield sites because they don't have to be concerned about:
Working around existing infrastructure
The cleaning-up costs of developing brownfield sites
“There are numerous opportunities out there. The fact remains, there's a lot of land and we don't have enough homes for people to live.”
property developer
"Tudeley Village can deliver homes and employment space, and crucially the infrastructure, amenities and services needed to support them."
owner of Hadlow Estate
Business owners
Some businesses welcome the plans, as the new development would:
Increase customers
Boost the local economy
There are also concerns that new shops, cafes and retail will
Take customers away from existing businesses
Create additional traffic which will upset local residents
"...while new houses will bring more customers, they could also bring problems. More houses means more traffic and it brings more pressure, making it harder and we have to manage that properly and if we don't, the locals will not be happy."
local pub owner
Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE)
The CPRE oppose the development at Tudeley
The organisation argues:
The development would cause increased traffic and congestion
Developments should be on brownfield sites, not greenfield sites
The CPRE estimates that building on brownfield sites across the UK could provide 1.3 million homes
"A brownfield first policy is sound good sense. We need to direct councils and developers to use these sites – often in town and city centres where housing need is most acute – before any greenfield land can be released."
President of the CPRE
Local campaign group, parish council and residents
The Tudeley Village proposal led to the formation of the 'Save Capel' campaign group
The group had several objections to the development, including:
Increased traffic, leading to more congestion on the B2017
The existing infrastructure will not be sufficient and new infrastructure will not be in place for years
The housing prices will not be affordable
It will lead to the destruction of hedgerows and woodlands, which are valuable habitats
Loss of protected species
There will be destruction of the footpaths used by the local community
Flood risk will be increased by the addition of impermeable surfaces
"Without a station, which is apparently only on the plans for after the first 1900 properties have been built, the pressure on local roads and transport infrastructure would be massive"
Save Capel's Chair
“It is not even a village now, just a hamlet with a few random settlements. This will completely transform Tudeley. The view and the landscape will be lost forever.”
local Tudeley resident
Examiner Tips and Tricks
It is important that when you are examining an issue, you consider a range of different viewpoints from stakeholders. Ensure that you have knowledge and understanding of some of the key stakeholders in the Tudeley Village plan.
Arguments For and Against Tudeley Village
Arguments For and Against the Tudeley Village Plan
For Tudeley Village | Against Tudeley Village |
|---|---|
It will provide 2 800 additional houses in the southeast of England. This will help reduce the housing crisis | The development will cover approximately 3 km² of greenfield land. It would require a change to the current Green Belt boundary |
The development will contain affordable housing in an area where house prices are above the national average. This will help reduce the number of people in unaffordable or unsuitable housing | 'Affordable' housing may still be too expensive for many of the people in the local area |
New services and shops will be built as part of the development, increasing access for the local population | The development will be in different phases, meaning that the creation of local jobs will take time. This will result in many residents commuting to London, leading to Tudeley becoming a commuter village that is empty during the day. |
An increase in community facilities, including a health centre, schools and sports facilities | The railway station will not be built until there are 1900 homes, which will be over ten years into the development plan. This means people will be dependent on their cars, which will lead to more congestion on the B2017 as well as air pollution |
New businesses and services will increase local employment opportunities | Pressure on current local services and facilities whilst new services and facilities are being built |
A 'low energy vision' | Hedgerows and other green spaces will be lost, reducing natural habitats and decreasing biodiversity |
Summary
The issue
The UK faces a housing crisis
The population of the southeast of England is increasing
To meet the housing demand and ensure affordable housing, some Green Belt land may need to be released and greenfield sites will need to be built on
The future
In November 2023, the Tunbridge Wells Borough Council (TWBC) withdrew the plans for Tudeley Village
This was the result of a report on the local plan by a planning inspector
The inspector told the council that they had not demonstrated the 'exceptional circumstances' that would enable the release of green belt land
"Further work is therefore necessary before a conclusion can be reached that exceptional circumstances exist to release the relevant site allocations from the Green Belt."
Government planning inspector
The report identified concerns regarding a range of issues, including:
The impact on the nearby roads of increased traffic
The new bypass at Five Oak Green may not gain approval
The planned railway station would not be constructed for over 10 years
The potential visual impacts of the new infrastructure on the High Weald AONB
Examiner Tips and Tricks
In the final question, you will be asked to make a decision on an issue. This issue may focus on several possible points including:
Whether the UK housing crisis means that building on greenfield sites is necessary to meet the housing demand
Whether the Tudeley village plan is sustainable. Consideration of economic and social sustainability as well as the environment is essential
Whether Tunbridge Wells Borough Council (TWBC) was right to halt the plans for the Tudeley Village development
What information from the resource booklet supports the decision and why? Which stakeholders would agree with this decision?
These will be mostly environmental factors
Stakeholders such as the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) and the 'Save Capel' local campaign group
What are the economic and social benefits that mean this was not the right decision and they should have gone ahead with the proposal?
Stakeholders with this view may be housebuilders or local people looking to buy an affordable home
Make sure that you reach a conclusion that summarises your main points and reinforces your decision.
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