Protesters call for 900 homes plan
promised affordable homes from as little as £60,000.
But concerns from Maidstone council about whether the new road infrastructure actually be delivered, saw the scheme excluded from the plan. Ms Wright added: “There are so many people desperate to get on the housing ladder, and this would have something from everyone.
“You could live, shop and work there, without ever having to get caught up in the Maidstone traffic.”
The protesters hope to persuade the inspector to rule that Broomfield Park should be included in the plan.
However, not everyone agrees. Gail Gosden, the clerk to Broomfield and Kingswood Parish Council, said the scheme was considered as part of its Neighbourhood Plan and it got no support.
“It is remote from the centre and felt if it went ahead it would spell the end of our village.
“The council also felt our local lanes would not cope with the extra traffic and our professional planning consultants who were helping us with our Plan said the figures did not add up – there was not enough money in the budgets to meet all the promises.”
Maidstone council said: “The Eco Park concept was rejected over concerns regarding its sustainability. The proposed development is reliant on the provision of significant new infrastructure which is unlikely to be deliverable.
“MBC’s Local Plan must be both viable and deliverable and this cannot illustrate it is.”
The 120-acre site is used as a Christmas tree plantation and 3,228 comments on the Local Plan were received.