Developer accused of putting profit before community

A housing developer stands accused of riding roughshod over planning guidelines in its pursuit of a scheme to build 50 homes.

Smarden Parish Council is squaring up to Gladman Developments, whose proposal was thrown out by Ashford Borough Council (ABC) in July.

A further application for 25 homes made by the Cheshirebased developer was subsequently approved by ABC as it was in line with the emerging Local Plan, but last month the firm appealed to build the full quota of homes.

Sarah Ellison, who chairs the parish council’s planning meeting said: “We are all very disappointed that Gladman have pursued this appeal.

“The village centre has about 250 houses, with a further 250 houses in the surrounding countryside. Fifty houses on a single site in the village is out of proportion and will be at a significant cost to the intrinsic value and beauty of this medieval village.”

Parish council chairman John Lowings echoed her concerns, saying: “The Local Plan allows for 25 houses on this site to 2030 which was democratically agreed between the parish and ABC. This was considered a sustainable number for the village, and also a number which would integrate seamlessly into the community.

“Smarden has an excellent record of building small developments dotted around the village and this has allowed us to grow and develop as a community.”

The parish council is concerned that the development, at the entrance to a conservation area, would spoil the countryside at the approach to the village and that it would put pressure on already overstretched GP services and schools.

Weald North councillor Geraldine Dyer is backing calls to “resist” the application, which she says “flies in the face of localism”.

Mrs Ellison accused Gladman Developments of running “roughshod” over local planning systems and urged residents to fight the scheme for the houses that would be built adjacent to Smarden Charter Hall.

She added: “We believe that Smarden is one of the jewels in Ashford’s crown and is falling victim to speculative development in pursuit of financial gain.

“Unless we can stand up and fight this inappropriate development, it will spread across the countryside and communities will be decimated.”

The outline application by Gladman Developments is for up to 50 dwellings, with up to 35% affordable housing, plus landscaping and informal public open space, including vehicle access from The Street. It occupies 3.25 hectares between Smarden Charter Hall and Weathercock, Pluckley Road. The ABC application reference is 16/00045/AS.

Gladman Developments had not responded to requests for a comment as we went to press yesterday (Wednesday).

The appeal is due to be heard on March 29 and 30.

Sarah Ellison, chairman of the planning committee, and John Lowings, chairman of Smarden Parish Council