Plans for 1,650 homes on edge of village approved

Developers applied for outline planning permission for up to 1,650 homes on fields at the edge of Birchington village back in 2021

A development of more than 1,600 homes in Thanet has been given the go-ahead.

Developers Ptarmigan Land and Places for People applied for outline planning permission on fields at the edge of Birchington village back in 2021.

Since then, there have been more than 1,800 objections, citing concerns over inadequate infrastructure, the loss of farmland and the erosion of a peaceful way of life, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

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

Council members heard the developers could not meet Thanet District Council’s (TDC) guidelines on affordable homes, while also achieving the profits expected by the authority.

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

It is possible the amount of affordable housing could jump to 23%, if Kent County Council (KCC) gets money from a road network fund to help build the North Thanet Link Road - a major project which would create a six-mile route between the A28 and Manston Road.

Currently, the developers plan to build part of the road themselves – but if KCC receives the government money it will take pressure off them to do so and allow more affordable homes to be built without eating into their profits.

Councillors were divided over whether to accept the number of affordable homes, with the plans narrowly approved seven to six.