‘Premature’ plans rejected

Residents were delighted when plans to build 15 new houses in Shadoxhurst were thrown out by the council.

Proposals to develop a site between The Hollies and Park Farm Close in the village were unanimously rejected by Ashford Borough Council’s (ABC) planning committee last Wednesday.

Developers Jarvis Homes submitted the application last year to build 15 houses, with car parking, new access and landscaping.

But residents said they were ‘deeply concerned’ about the ‘urbanisation’ of the village and councillors agreed planning approval should not be granted.

Speaking at the meeting on behalf of residents in the village, Ian Proctor warned of the impact of the plans.

He said: “This development would increase the urbanisation of our village and damage its rural identity.

“Shadoxhurst is a small village where even minor visual changes can have a significant impact.

“We already have to deal with the reality of Chilmington Green heading in our direction in addition to the recent substantial growth in housing development within our village.”

Cllr Gerry Clarkson, ABC leader, said the plans ‘worried’ him as they were trying to be submitted and approved before the Local Plan was agreed.

He said: “This application disturbs me a little. We are in the process of drawing up our Local Plan 2030 but we will be going out to consultation on the final sites in April for eight weeks and so this is very premature. There has been no decision made that this will be put forward in the Local Plan. We have enough sites right now and will have more when this goes forward.

“The developer is premature in his plans and is trying to step in right in the middle of our Local Plan process.

“These plans are fundamentally wrong in principle, this is an issue of principle and I’m saddened that developers are bringing forward these sites prematurely.” Chilmington Green

Pentland Homes, Ward Homes, Barratt Homes and Hodson Developments

5,750 First 3,500 homes expected by 2021

Four primary schools, a secondary school, market square, a village green with cricket pitch, a supermarket,

Shared public spaces and cafe Newtown Works (former railway works), Ashford Kier Property Developments

788 108 houses are already built; three more phases to come Due to open this summer

Not yet known Godinton Way, Ashford Croudace Homes

83

Cllr Gerry Clarkson and right; Land between The Hollies and Park Farm Close, in Shadoxhurst