Plans for 1,750 homes in Kent Downs rejected

Estate ‘right development in wrong place’

Councillors have refused plans to build up to 1,750 homes at a Kent beauty spot.

Quinn Estates wanted to construct the garden village, Binbury Park, at the former Detling Aerodrome site, north of the A249 between Maidstone and Sittingbourne.

The proposal also included provision for commercial space, a primary school, shopping centre, health centre, hotel, sports pitches and country park.

There was also the promise of a park and ride scheme and improvements to Junction 7 of the M20.

But Maidstone Borough Council (MBC) officers recommended that its planning committee should reject the plan, due to its heavy reliance on cars without good public transport links, as well as its location in the Kent Downs, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).

The scheme was rejected after going before MBC’s planning

committee at Maidstone Town Hall on Thursday.

Cllr Steve Munford (Ind) said: “There are some good aspects to the scheme, however we have to prove a need, and there is no need. Even after we have identified a need, we would have to prove that this could not be done elsewhere in the borough, and under landscape that is not protected.”

Cllr Anne Brindle (Con) added: “Yes, it is a well crafted development, providing housing, leisure, schooling and improvements to the highway network.

“But, the whole of this development lies within the AONB. I accept that parts of it might not be very ‘pretty’, but it is designated AONB, with the highest level of protection.”

Cllr Tony Harwood (Lib Dem) said: “It is a site that I know very well, my grandparents lived in Detling. There is a significant problem here with this location, not just in landscape terms but also in car dependency terms.

“I don’t believe that a rural location such as this could make public transport work in a sustainable way.

“I also think the status of that site (Detling Aerodrome) essentially as a battlefield, should not be turned into another housing estate.”

Cllr Ashleigh Kimmance (Lib Dem) said: “It’s the right development, but it’s in the wrong place.”

The plans were opposed by the Campaign to Protect Rural England and Thurnham Parish Council.

The committee rejected the plans, with eight votes to three and two abstentions.

Exisiting business park Proposed commercial park Proposed residential area Country park Infrastructure and park & ride Hotel Existing garage and cafe School and local centre © Google Earth/Landsa The proposed Binbury Park garden village, near Detling, would have included a hotel, country park, school and health centre

Cllr Ashleigh Kimmance voted to refuse the scheme