Homes plan given green light despite objections

A parish council said it was concerned about the “volume of traffic" that might be generated

A development of 375 new homes has been approved for Ashford but two councils have criticised the plans.

The 128-acre (52 hectare) site, between Trinity Road and Sandyhurst Lane in Kennington, Kent, will also include nearly 35,000 sq m of business space.

A parish council said it was concerned about the “volume of traffic that may be generated” by the estate.

But a highways officer said the developer had already paid for a half-hourly bus service for seven years.

Traffic concerns

All 11 councillors on Ashford Borough Council’s planning committee voted in favour of the plans, despite 74 letters of objection, the BBC's Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

Doreen Titmuss, of Boughton Aluph & Eastwell Parish Council, said it was the largest development in the area “over the next decade”.

“Development at this scale does not come without impact,” she said.

Charles Ellish, of Kennington Community Council, said the development was not designed with the needs of Kennington in mind.

But Patrick Reedman, an agent for developer Quadrant, said homes on “sites like this” should be a priority.

One planning officer said the development could be one of Kennington's flagship sites

“We are in the midst of a housing crisis. This is a relatively low density, spacious and very nice living environment,” said Mr Reedman.

“The application presents you with an opportunity to deliver a nutrient-mitigated, policy-compliant level of housing, affordable housing, and employment.”

Nutrient neutrality offsets any nutrients released into waterways as a result of a development.

An increase in nutrients can cause an increase in plant growth and damage protected sites.

Quadrant will convert about eight hectares of arable land into grasslands to “maintain a natural, rural environment,” a planning officer said.

'Flagship site'

The outline planning permission gives consent for up to 375 homes with the exact details of layout and design yet to be decided.

It is proposed that 30% of the homes, or 113, will be affordable.

Another planning officer told members that because of the nutrient neutrality measures “there’s a good chance this site can be brought forward in a reasonable timeframe”.

“This is potentially one of our flagship sites in the town,” he said.