Local Greens have reacted with amazement at the shortfall of infrastructure funding for Maidstone’s Local Plan. New documents provide an estimate of around £400m for just half of the necessary new infrastructure required for the planned addition 20,000 homes yet the funding for schools, roads and community centres that is available is just £26m. When the plan is fully costed it is assumed around £800m will be needed.
Green Cllr Stuart Jeffery said, “Known funding sources such as the Community Infrastructure Levy and Section 106 from developers will provide a paltry £26m towards the schools, roads, bus services, community centres and other infrastructure that must be provided.
“With only half of the infrastructure needs costed, there is already a bill of £400m. That bill could head towards a billion once full costs are known yet developers a providing around 3% of the funds needed. This plan does not work.”
Cllr Stephen Thompson said, “Not only is the Maidstone’s Local Plan completely economically unviable, it will leave people without much needed services and living in places and homes that are not fit for the future. It’s not a plan, it’s a scam!”
Notes:
· New document released as part of latest consultation on Maidstone’s Local Plan Review. See page 11. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1wMJ-Nf4FqEhZbk6Y-6Vg0qcLU1w1hrD_/view