An unspoilt area of the countryside north of Canterbury is under threat from a proposal to build 2000 houses.  The land belongs to the University of Kent and their proposal was included in Canterbury City Council’s Draft Local Plan in 2024.  Thanks in part to a petition on Change.Org, which got over 25,000 signatures, the proposal was then removed from the plan by CCC.

However, the University is determined to press ahead with selling the land for development.  We desperately need your help to persuade the University to change its mind.  Please sign our petition below.

 THE PETITION

We the undersigned are outraged that the University of Kent is proceeding with its intention to sell its land for a massive residential development of over 2000 houses. 

This is despite sustained opposition from local communities, national and local organisations as well as repeated decisions by Canterbury City Council that this land is unsuitable for development.

The land was removed in March 2026  from the Canterbury Council’s Draft Local Plan due to

·         Concerns regarding provision of suitable access;

·         Impact on the highway network; 

·         Impact on ecology, including the loss of ancient woodland. 

We implore the University of Kent to reverse its decision to sell its land, accept the Council’s democratic decision, and re-engage in meaningful dialogue with local communities.

Why should you support this Petition?

Blean Woods is one of the largest and most distinctive areas of ancient woodland in the UK. It is the site of the world-leading Wilder Blean rewilding project, which has successfully reintroduced European Bison to the woods along with Longhorn Cattle, Exmoor Ponies and Iron-Age Pigs. It also has multiple nationally and internationally recognised areas of importance, including Sites of Special Scientific Interest and Special Areas of Conservation. 

Blean Woods is a hotspot for the rare and iconic heath fritillary butterfly, and Red-list woodland birds including lesser-spotted woodpeckers, nightingales and spotted flycatchers. Several invertebrate species thought extinct in the UK have also been recently recorded.  With only 2.5% of the UK covered by ancient woodland, protecting every hectare is vital.   

But as with many of the UK’s natural areas, the Blean has been fragmented by farming and unsustainable development. This has resulted in isolated pockets of woodland, limiting the movement of wildlife, and restricting public access across the Blean. 

We do not believe that the sale of this land is a financially or ecologically sustainable solution to the University’s financial problems.  It will cause irreversible damage to the local environment, cultural heritage and wildlife, and result in the loss of valuable farmland and recreational green space.

Please sign our petition.  Many thanks indeed.

Sign up to our newsletter here via the Save The Blean website

https://www.savetheblean.org/