Littlebrook Lakes

Although Littlebrook Lakes is in north Kent, just across the River Thames from Essex by the Dartford Crossing, it exemplifies the fate of important nature conservation sites in the Thames Gateway and beyond.

The site had a range of features of nature conservation importance, including flower rich areas of grassland, drought-stressed grasslands and lichen heath, as well as scrub, seasonally wet areas and permanent wetland habitats. Even limited survey work had identified its importance for invertebrates, including nationally rare species and taxa included in the UK Biodiversity Action Plan.




Despite the results of two provisional invertebrate surveys undertaken in 2000 and 2001, a press release in August 2005 announced a Development Agreement between Dartford Borough Council and Prologis Developments Ltd for €œOne of the countrys most innovative developments, The Bridge€, and the whole area of nature conservation importance was bulldozed in November 2005.

The Bridge is stated to set a precedent for new developments across the country, combining a mixture of outstanding design with the latest technology in homes and offices. The project is stated to be the first, new and fully sustainable mixed-use venture to be delivered to the Thames Gateway (!!) The Leader of Dartford Borough Council is quoted as saying that The Bridge will put Dartford at the forefront of cutting edge design.

The mature trees across the site are apparently being protected during the development process and they will be €œsympathetically integrated into the landscape of the new site€, indicating the very sad priorities planners, developers, landscape architects and even ecological consultancies place on the open, structurally diverse habitats that support numerous rare invertebrates.

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