Development firm sent packing after plan gets rejected

Controversial 250-home proposal criticised

In a surprisingly quick discussion, controversial plans to build 250 homes in Tenterden have been refused planning permission.

Ahead of last Wednesday’s planning committee meeting, Ashford Borough Council officers had recommended refusal in a comprehensive report.

The application, which had 356 objection comments attached, was widely seen as damaging the area’s ecology.

Wates Development had hoped to be given outline permission to build 250 homes in Appledore Road on the outskirts of Tenterden - 40% of which would have been affordable.

Also including a country park and sports pitches, the development faced criticism from the Limes Land Protection Group, which was formed to block the proposal.

Now the developer will now have to go back to the drawing board after a unanimous decision to refuse.

Speaking ahead of the decision, South Tenterden representative Cllr Callum Knowles (Con) gave an impassioned defence of the area’s current condition.

He said: “This site has such great biodiversity, you can’t overstate the importance of this site, particularly the grassland.

“You can’t mitigate that - once it’s gone, it’s gone.”

He then thanked officers for the refusal recommendation, noting the vagueness of the developer’s ecological mitigation strategy.

Cllr Knowles also highlighted a lack of public transport near the site.

Cllr Paul Clokie (Con), who represents Tenterden North, echoed the environmental concerns and worried that the country park aspect only meant the development’s housing would be more densely packed.

He continued: “Tenterden has absorbed a large number of houses so far with another 300 or 400 on the way, so this really does swamp the town before it’s got used to the lot coming in.”

Cllr Clokie, a former ABC leader, then motioned to refuse the application.

Cllr Kate Walder (Ind) warned of ripple effects on surrounding villages, after which Cllr Linda Harman (Ashford Independents) seconded the motion to refuse what she called a “horrendous windfall” site.

The motion to refuse was the only motion, and was supported unanimously.

How part of the controversial development off Appledore Road was set to look

Cllr Kate Walder warned of ripple effects on villages