Villagers hit back at plans for 400 new homes

As an outline planning application, the bid seeks approval for the principle of development on the site

Plans for 400 homes on a former Kent landfill site have been submitted despite villagers saying the area is now "as busy as central London".

Developers PMG Regeneration originally mooted proposals for 376 new homes on the Biffa site south of London Road in Greenhithe in November.

But in April, the developers submitted an outline planning application to Dartford Borough Council for up to 400 homes.

One objecting villager wrote: "Greenhithe used to be a lovely little village, now it's become as busy as central London, it seems every little piece of land you can possibly build on, it's built on."

The waste site sits next to Knockhall Chase and Mounts Road and has been left empty since the mid-1990s.

The developers said homes had been earmarked on the site for years.

"The site has been consistently promoted for residential development of between 300 and 500 homes since 2007," they said.

Of the homes proposed, 35% – or 140 of the 400 – are set to be marketed as affordable housing, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

The waste site has been left empty since the mid-1990s

Planning documents submitted by the developers read: "The development would utilise previously developed land to create a modest and contained extension within Greenhithe to accommodate the borough's growing housing needs."

The plans have received written objections from 18 residents.

One villager wrote: "Yes we need more houses, but this area is swamped already.

"The roads are awful, parking is terrible and the traffic is dreadful as it is."

Several of the objections cited the continued closure of the A226 Galley Hill Road in Swanscombe due to a cliff collapse as a reason for concern.

It is not yet known when Dartford council's planning committee will decide on the bid, but an internal target deadline of 1 August has been set.

As an outline planning application, the bid seeks approval for the principle of development on the site.

If it were approved, further planning applications would be needed to confirm the exact layout and design of the estate.