Group hopes to ‘minimise homes impact’

As well as the Kingsnorth Green scheme, developers also hope to build 1,000 homes on land off Pound Lane and next to the Kingsnorth Green site. Dubbed Court Lodge, the development will include a new square with retail and office space and a twoform entry primary school if the plans are approved. Plans were formally submitted last month. Mr Fisher, who runs the Queen’s Head pub, added: “This will impact not only on the residents Kingsnorth village but families on the existing estates on Park Farm, Knights Park, and Bridgefield.

“We understand that the principle of development on these sites has been established in the Local Plan but we can fight them to minimise their impact. “We will be supporting the parish council in demanding that there is a full ecological, environmental and transport impact of all of these developments combined to find a proper solution rather than looking at each development piecemeal which misses the bigger picture.” An ABC spokesman confirmed the Kingsnorth Green scheme is now back out for consultation.

She said: “The council has decided to carry out a public consultation again, on the amended application and the current list of supporting documents, to give everyone a full opportunity to comment.

“This will necessitate reporting the application to committee again, once the comments have been considered.”

To submit your comments, visit www.ashford.gov.uk and search for planning reference 15/00856/AS.

Last week, Ashford Borough Council officially adopted its Local Plan to 2030.

The planning blueprint - which sets out where homes are set to be built in the borough up to 2030 - was approved at a full council meeting.

Initially drafted in June 2016, the plan has been subject to a number of public consultation events, including an examination in public in 2018 by two independent Planning Inspectors.

Cllr Paul Clokie, portfolio holder for planning and development, said: “The adoption of the Local Plan 2030 is a key milestone and an important document which will shape future development in our borough.

“Our Local Plan 2030 sets out our demands for building quality, internal living space and affordable housing ratios.

“I am confident that it offers the right strategy and policies for the future planning of the borough, here in the garden of England.”