With its rolling fields, sprawling orchards and distinctive oast houses, Kent has long been celebrated as the Garden of England.
But in recent years, the county has acquired a rather less welcome reputation – as a hotspot for unauthorised traveller developments.
An epicentre of the phenomenon has been the hamlet of Sandway, where five illegal sites have appeared in just nine months.
Villagers say the spate of building work has dramatically altered the character of their local area and threatens to hammer local house prices.
They are far from alone. Across Kent, at least five more unauthorised developments have made headlines so far this
To provide well-rounded coverage and a breadth of insight across various events, we rely on contributions from several staff writers, each bringing their own area of expertise to our publication.

