Mixed reaction to housing plan which could see more than 1,000 homes
The public have had their say on plans for a massive development off the busy A249 at Detling Hill.
Two options have been put forward for the 155-acre site, called Binbury Park, next to Kent Showground.
The first is for 350 homes, two million sq ft of commercial space and a primary school, while the second includes 1,450 homes and 650,000 sq ft of commercial space.
Both options feature plans for a country park, hotel, park-andride and a new roundabout on the A249.
In total, 110 people attended the three-hour-long planning exhibition at Detling village hall in Pilgrims Way on Thursday to have their say.
Mark Quinn, director of Quinn Estates, said feedback had been positive and the development was a sustainable way of helping to meet the council’s housing objectives.
He said: “What we are hearing is a preference for more residential, which is probably the first time we have had that.
“I think people see it as a sensible, sustainable place to put development, somewhere the infrastructure is already in place.
“We know we will have to spend millions of pounds on junction 7 and the A249, but this type of scheme is on such a significant scale we can afford to do that. That wouldn’t be the case with smaller developments.”
Maidstone Borough Council is looking to provide 18,560 new homes by 2031.
The Binbury Park site is mainly arable farmland and wooded areas but also includes the former RAF Detling airfield, which closed in 1958, and the Detling Aerodrome Industrial Estate.
Highways England has already pledged up to £100m to improve Stockbury roundabout, but Quinn Estates would improve junction 7, with talk of an extra lane towards Notcutts and Next and a new roundabout by the junction of the A249 with Bimbury Lane.
The developers are aiming to have a planning application in by the end of this year, with construction to start straight away if it is approved.
Proposals and comments can be viewed at bit.ly/1750bimbury and bit.ly/350bimbury