Kentish Express Ashford & District
'Large Burton' plans set for debate
A controversial scheme for 725 homes was expected to be permitted last night after planning officers recommended it was approved.
Wednesday’s meeting of Ashford Borough Council’s virtual planning committee concerned the Conningbrook Park - or Large Burton - scheme, a Quinn Estates project centred on arable land in Kennington.
Included in the Ashford Borough Council Local Plan, the current blueprint is the result of a large number of changes resulting from strong objections over highway impact, parking and design.
Initially 750 homes were outlined for the 81.5-acre site off Willesborough Road which has seen five rounds of revisions since being submitted last January.
If approved, the now 725 houses would be built alongside a new primary school, bowls club and community centre.
The community centre would feature a gym, takeaway, a café and shops.
Despite these promised amenities, the plan had proved to be highly unpopular among residents.
As of May 18, a total of 75 support comments had been lodged on the scheme’s application.
In contrast, more than 1,100 objections have been garnered from 813 individual residents who additionally started a petition in opposition.
The largest concerns centred on the loss of the field which in the council’s report - is noted as “Grade 1 farmland, the best and most versatile agricultural land”.
Tied to this is a potential loss of protected wildlife known to be on the site, including water voles, grass snakes, slow worms, lizards, badgers and greater crested newts.
On this point, a site-wide mitigation scheme submitted by the developer was deemed by the council to be “appropriate and implementable within the current design of the proposed development”.
This includes having ongoing contact and checks with a supervising ecologist, protective fencing around certain zones and appropriate storage of chemicals.
Another major concern was the impact on traffic, with an early KCC Highways report suggesting “severe” consequences with a rush-hour drive along Canterbury Road possibly taking six-times longer than it does currently.
However the latest ABC report on Conningbrook Park noted: “KCC Highways does not raise any objections following the submission of additional information and amendments to the scheme.”
The site will be accessed through two roads connecting the development to Willesborough Road.
If approved last night, construction could start immediately on 288 of the homes.
A second planning permission would be required for the detailed design of the other 437, which were recommended for outline approval ahead of last night’s meeting.
An earlier planning committee meeting was held on March 18 just before the coronavirus lockdown came into force, however technical teething problems saw it postponed until yesterday (Wednesday).