New images have been released showing plans for a scaled-down property on agricultural land.
Vistry Homes has released new details showing what its proposal on the outskirts of Tenterden could look like after the company failed to gain planning permission for a major development four years ago.
The company promises to provide 50% of the affordable housing in the 141-apartment development, along with new roads, sidewalks, a sports pavilion and children’s playgrounds on Limes Land.
The houses will be a mix of detached houses, semi-detached houses, terraced houses and bungalows, consisting of two affordable one-bedroom houses, 31 affordable two-bedroom houses, 38 affordable three-bedroom houses as well as 21 three-bedroom houses, 36 four-bedroom houses and 12 five-bedroom houses.
The development between Appledore Road and Woodchurch Road will also include 268 parking spaces, 51 visitor parking spaces, 141 charging stations for electric vehicles and temporary garages.
A bicycle parking facility would also be planned on the site.
In terms of green spaces, a children’s playground, community orchards and footpaths would be created and 447 new trees would be planted.
Computer-generated images of a sports pavilion will also be presented in the plans for the reserved matters – aspects relating to design, layout and landscaping that have not yet been agreed – following the granting of pre-approval in 2022.
Previously, Ashford Borough Council (ABC) had rejected proposals to develop the site with 250 homes in 2020.
The following year, plans for 145 homes were rejected, but the 2022 application for up to 141 homes, 50% of which would be affordable, was approved on appeal.
However, members of the Lime Lands Protection Group (LLPG), which was formed in 2017 to oppose the development, continue to raise concerns about what the development could mean for people who already live nearby.
One said the loss of privacy and security “due to proximity to roads/paths/houses” was unacceptable.
Another reason was the loss of wildlife corridors that would be destroyed during construction, as well as the previous flooding of Appledore Road.
They also described parking allocation in affordable housing areas as “chaotic” and added that “the loss of trees and hedges in a climate crisis is extremely regrettable and avoidable with careful planning”.
Members of the group stated that they had requested a complete process plan through to completion, showing the necessary steps to be taken after the application is submitted.
They added: “It is to be expected that timelines may change, but this is not an unreasonable request for residents of the adjacent site.”
Kent Fire and Rescue Service officials also expressed concerns about the road layout, saying that in developments with 50 to 300 homes they recommend building two access roads or creating a loop with a short connection to a single access road and a second emergency access road.
They recommended incorporating this into the plans.
The fire chief also said that a footpath around the property to a main entrance far from where a fire engine would park should be discouraged because emergency services would prefer to enter the property through the front door rather than the rear garden so that fires could be extinguished more quickly.
NHS Kent and Medway chiefs also believe the proposal will impact healthcare delivery and may require more funding to support services.
They estimated that £150,624 would be desirable for the renovation, redevelopment and/or extension of existing general practices – Ivy Court Surgery and Woodchurch Surgery – and other healthcare facilities in the area, or for new premises for general medical or community health services.
“This proposal will generate approximately 418 new patient registrations in general practice based on the residential mix,” they added.
“The proposed development falls within the current practice boundaries of Ivy Court Surgery and Woodchurch Surgery.
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“The proposal will also increase demand for other health services for the local population and is considered as part of the integrated care models being developed alongside the East Kent Health and Care Partnership’s infrastructure strategy for the area.
“The demand from this and other new developments must therefore be met by creating additional capacity in general practitioners’ practices and other healthcare facilities.”
A decision on the reserved matters application will be made by planning officers at ABC.