Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
Building on woodland ‘would be another nail in coffin for village’
Fears for ‘last-remaining refuge for nature’ as plot put on market for £550k
Residents fear their village’s “last-remaining refuge for wildlife” could be transformed into an estate after the plot was slapped with a £550,000 price tag. Known as Pyes Wood, the site in Hersden, near Canterbury, has been put on the market, with drawings showing how a development of five houses and 10 flats could be laid out. Those living nearby have branded the vision “another nail in the coffin” for the area as work on two other projects totalling 1,420 homes - is teed up for the village. Neighbour John Caddick, 72, told the Gazette: “Where else is wildlife going to go? “They are building all around this area, and this is the last-remaining bit of refuge for nature. “With all the new housing in the village, this is another nail in the coffin if this goes.” Barnard Marcus, the firm marketing the 0.9-acre site in North View, says the plot has “development potential subject to planning”.
This comes after Persimmon Homes, one of the UK’S biggest house-builders, revealed early plans to construct 800 properties on a huge plot to the north of Hersden in 2021.
Work is already underway on the 250-home Hoplands Farm estate on the other side of the Island Road, while a 370-home project on the former Chislet Colliery site has planning permission.
Local John Waite worries dog walkers will have few places to take their pets if the woodland is concreted over. “There’s 27 oak trees here on less than an acre so how are they going to fit 15 houses on it?” the 62-year-old asked. “We’ve got bluebells, nightingales and owls in here - you’ve only got to come at night and you’ll hear them. Where are the dogs going to walk, and where are the kids going to play?” Drawings produced by the housing association that ordered the sale of the site show a new access will be built at the end of North View. Barnard Marcus’ advertising material says: “While the site is being sold on an unconditional basis without planning perm ission the housing association has drawn up some plans for indicative purposes for the development of five houses and 10 flats. “This is of course subject to a buyer obtaining planning permission and consents .”