Plan for 100 homes hits a wall

Outline planning permission has been granted for 100 homes to be built at Barty Farm in Bearsted, despite strong opposition.

But councillors on Maidstone council’s planning committee first refused listed building consent for the partial demolition and relocation of the wall around Barty House, on the grounds it would detract from the 18th century listed building. Since demolition and rebuilding of the wall is necessary for buses, bin lorries and emergency vehicles to reach the proposed new homes, it is not clear where developers Crabtree and Crabtree will go from here.

There was strong local opposition to both plans, with Dennis Spooner for the Bearsted and Thurnham Society and Michael Stark for Thurnham Parish Council speaking against. Although access falls in Bearsted, the housing land is in Thurnham. Officers agreed the proposals would be contrary to an existing policy, called ENV28 which protects the countryside, but said it could not be used as a reason for objection because of the borough’s lack of a five-year housing supply.

Cllr Tony Harwood (Lib Dem) argued in favour of approving both applications, saying the site had been allocated for housing in the draft Local Plan. Cllrs Richard Ash (Con) and Cllrs Richard Thick (Con) argued to refuse permission because of a lack of local school places, saying children would end up going to school in Langley, four miles away. They also raised safety concerns, with the access to the development being close to a blind bend.

But as KCC the highways authority had not objected, the committee chairman, Cllr Clive English (Lib Dem), ruled he would not permit any objection to be made on highways grounds. The outline permis- sion was approved on condition all the public open space was provided and used to create a buffer between the new homes and Water Lane.

The day before the meeting, planning officers used delegated powers to refuse permission for 10 five-bedroom homes to be built in the gardens of Apple Tree House in Ware Street, Bearsted.

Reasons include the effect on the landscape and being contrary to plans to protect the countryside.