Tesco’s plan for homes withdrawn
A supermarket has withdrawn plans for a housing development, more than 20 years after it first proposed building a store on the site.
Tesco submitted a proposal for 61 homes on a 29,000 sq m plot of farmland in Staplehurst in September 2021.
It hoped to build 36 properties comprising 20 houses and 16 flats, plus 21 affordable homes featuring 15 houses and 10 maisonettes off George Street. It acquired the land more than 20 years ago and put forward plans for a store there. However, the company has now withdrawn its application for the homes, which would have been opposite Staplehurst Railway Station.
It comes after planning officers at Maidstone council advised Tesco its application would likely be refused.
It was noted the development would go against Maidstone council’s Local Plan and its spatial strategy for the location of new housing.
Concerns were also raised about the project potentially causing harm to the appearance and character of the countryside.
Prior to the withdrawal, Staplehurst Parish Council had asked for the plans to be turned down.
In its submission to planners, it said: “Councillors recommend the application is refused and request the application to be referred to Maidstone council’s planning committee were the planning officer minded to approve.
“Development north of the railway line is outside of the village envelope and as such does not meet the requirements for development in the countryside. Councillors strongly believe every effort should be made to protect the open countryside and landscapes of local value such as the Staplehurst Low Weald.”
In 2003 the retailer had announced an application for a new 2,000 sq m store on the same site.
It started a battle with the supermarket’s rival Sainsbury’s, which eventually opened its own store in the village in 2021, delayed in part as it awaited the outcome of the Tesco bid.
Although that had been given the thumbs up by villagers, Tesco announced it was withdrawing from the project in 2005 due to difficulties with officers at Maidstone council. Tesco submitted a new application in 2012 but this was refused in May 2013 and a resubmitted proposal was subsequently turned down.