Strawberry Fields, Ulcombe
A European first for the strawberry industry is already delivering on its promise of increased yields of higher quality fruit for a Kent producer after DHA helped Charltons secure permission for a £5m investment.
Charltons, one of the county's largest family-owned soft and top fruit producers, has built 30 acres of fully retractable greenhouses developed by Canadian company Cravo, to protect its crops and reduce its environmental impact.
Planning permission was given for the retractable greenhouses, as well as storage buildings, water storage tanks, a drainage system and a 24,980m3 reservoir on land at Ulcombe in Kent.
DHA undertook a pre-application consultation with Historic England due to the site's close proximity to the Grade I Listed All Saints Church, and also attended Parish Council meetings during the application process to keep the local community informed of progress.
The site, on the Greensand Ridge, was deemed by the council to be a landscape of local value but not designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The proposals incorporated planting of native species trees, hedgerows and conifers under a landscaping scheme.
Despite the local Parish Council opposing the scheme on the grounds of landscape impact and the accumulative effect of the new Cravo greenhouses and other nearby polytunnels on the Greensand Ridge, the application secured the officer's recommendation for approval.
Historic England raised no objection on the proposal's impact on the setting of the historic church and permission was granted by Maidstone Borough Council.
Project Team
Eric joined DHA in 2004 having previously worked in Local Government. He has a BA (Hons) in Town Planning and a Post Graduate Diploma in Town Planning from South Bank University, and is a Chartered Town Planner and member of the Royal Town Planning Institute.
Eric Przyjemski BA (Hons)
Associate
Eric previously held the post of Senior Planning Officer at Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council and has over 20 years' experience in Town and Country Planning in the public sector, including Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council, Sevenoaks District Council and Maidstone Borough Council.