The current discovery of a uncommon Candelabra Coral fungus in South Blean Woods, Kent, is threatening to halt a big housing improvement.
The proposed Winterbourne Fields undertaking, a 1,800-home “village” located between Faversham and Canterbury, is now beneath scrutiny from environmental campaigners and native residents, who argue that the presence of the fungus highlights the ecological sensitivity of the realm.
Planning permission for the location is now in jeopardy, regardless of the builders claiming the undertaking would meet all biodiversity measures.
What’s the Candelabra Coral Fungus?
The Candelabra Coral fungus was considered extinct within the UK till its rediscovery in 2012(Picture credit score: Getty Photos)
The Candelabra Coral fungus, also called crown-tipped coral fungus, is extraordinarily uncommon and was as soon as thought extinct within the UK.
Though generally present in North America, it was believed to have vanished from the UK till its rediscovery in 2012 in Suffolk.
With solely 14 sightings since 1883, Vicky Ellis, Normal Supervisor of Kent’s Council for the Preservation of Rural England (CPRE), expressed pleasure over the invention, stating: “It’s a important discover, and illustrates simply how precious the woodland is and the way little we learn about what secrets and techniques it could maintain.”
Ellis and her workforce consider the fungus’ presence is a robust indicator of the broader biodiversity within the space, additional solidifying the case in opposition to improvement.
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What was going to be constructed on the location?
The Winterbourne Fields undertaking, spearheaded by developer Shaptor Capital, was set to rework 220 acres of low-grade agricultural land right into a mixed-use improvement.
Plans included 1,815 properties, a 160-bed retirement village, 545 reasonably priced housing items, outlets, eating places, and a main college.
The builders additionally supposed to construct facilities equivalent to sports activities pitches, biking routes, and a 5km leisure path. New infrastructure, together with slip roads and roundabouts, was designed to ease visitors stream out and in of the realm.
Shaptor Capital claimed that the undertaking can be “one of many greenest residing environments conceivable, shrouded by magnificent historical woodland.”
Why may the invention halt improvement?
Environmental teams, equivalent to Kent’s Council for the Preservation of Rural England (CPRE), consider the invention of the Candelabra Coral fungus proves that the habitat must be protected.
Native campaigners, like Carol Goatham of the Farms, Fields, and Recent Air group, have additionally questioned the builders’ information of the location’s pure wealth. “The builders don’t truly know what’s on the location,” Goatham mentioned, noting the invention of the fungus as proof of the realm’s ecological significance.
Councillor Wealthy Lehmann, a Inexperienced Social gathering member for each Swale Borough Council and Kent County Council, believes the plan is basically flawed.
“It has recognized points with water provide, floor water flooding, and sewage disposal,” Lehmann mentioned. “To even entertain the concept that this may get planning permission reveals how really damaged our present planning legal guidelines are.”
Resolution on the fungus anticipated by the top of 2024
Shaptor Capital maintains that their undertaking is environmentally accountable and guarantees to generate a biodiversity internet achieve of 10%.
The builders have proposed buffer zones and measures to guard native wildlife and historical woodlands. Nevertheless, the ecological issues and widespread native opposition imply that the destiny of Winterbourne Fields is unsure.
A choice on the planning software is anticipated by the top of the 12 months, however whether or not the event will proceed stays unclear, particularly in mild of the fungus discovery.
