Kentish Express Ashford & District
Have a say on estate now – or don’t complain later
Councillor urges residents to join discussion of development
A leading councillor has urged residents to have their say on the design plans for the massive Chilmington Green development.
Cllr Jessamy Blanford, Ashford Borough Council’s portfolio holder for culture, leisure and environment, made the comments at last Thursday’s Cabinet meeting as members were discussing the huge housing estate’s Design Code.
She said: “People should take a serious interest in the consultation and they should do so now so they’re not stuck with something or complain later that something has gone wrong
“I have been very pleased to see the amount of comments that have come in. It is good to see that people are taking a keen interest in it.”
Cabinet members agreed to recommend to full council to adopt the draft Design Code as an official planning guide.
Councillors are expected to ratify the code at the full council meeting today (Thursday), which will then see the document officially classed as a Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) to the 2013 Chilmington Green Area Action Plan (AAP).
Chilmington Green, Ashford’s biggest ever housing estate, will see 5,750 new homes built on fields to the west of the town.
Plans were eventually approved in October 2014 and are backed by four major housing firms – Pentland Homes, Ward Homes, Barratt Homes and Hodson Developments.
Clare San Martin, Partner at John Thompson & Partners on behalf of the development consortium, added: “The Design Code represents the Consortium and ABC’s joint commitment to high quality design.
“It will make Chilmington Green a great place to live with attractive streets and neighbourhoods of different character.”
The Planning Agreement is expected to be completed in January, with building commencing shortly after.
Plans for the new estate include four primary schools, a secondary school and road links.
It will be so large that it will contain its own high street, market square, a village green and cricket field, a supermarket, and sports pitches. There will also be a community hub with a village hall, a nursery, a youth centre, a library, a GP surgery and a place of worship.