Concerns raised after hundreds of homes approved

Margaret Gardiner (second from the left) is worried the village cannot cope with the influx of residents

Concerns have been raised after plans for more than 1,600 homes in Thanet were approved after hundreds of people objected.

Outline planning permission for the development on fields at the edge of Birchington village was submitted in 2021 and approved on Tuesday.

Village resident Margaret Gardiner raised concern over the environmental impact, due to the structures of the roads in the area, and the lack of water and sewage facilities.

In a joint statement, the two developers behind the plan, Ptarmigan Land and Places for People, said the £45m development would include "vital roads, schools, sports facilities and local upgrades".

Ms Gardiner, from the Save Our Fields Birchington group, also raised concerns about the pressure the development could add to local healthcare facilities and feared the homes could make flooding "10 times worse".

"The village will be absolutely swamped. We can't cope with it," she said.

Phil Fellows, who represents the ward at Thanet District Council (TDC), is concerned there will be a "traffic crisis".

He said: "It’s going to increase the population by 5,000 people."

Developers applied for outline planning permission for up to 1,650 homes on the fields back in 2021

The proposal was deferred by district councillors in September in the hope there would be an increase in affordable homes offered at the site, but no more was forthcoming.

Ptarmigan proposed 15.5% of the homes were to be sold or rented affordably, but on large developments TDC policy said it should be 30%.

The developers also said they would ensure open space was provided and that a local medical centre would be expanded.

Councillors were divided over whether to accept the number of affordable homes, but the plans were approved seven to six. There were about 1,800 objections.

A TDC spokesperson said: "We understand that this matter is of significant interest locally and have ensured throughout the process that all of the relevant issues have been examined in public.

"This site is a strategic allocation, within the local plan to 2031, meaning that it has been deemed suitable for the provision of new homes and is linked to the delivery of key infrastructure."