Kentish Express Ashford & District
Plans for 375 new homes ‘will blur country boundary’
Developers submit bid for Kennington site
People living near to a huge housing scheme fear it will “overload the road system” and blur the boundary between town and countryside.
Developers initially hoped to build 600 homes, a retirement village and business park on land between Trinity Road and Sandyhurst Lane in Kennington - but these plans have been scaled back to 375 homes and no retirement village.
If built, the ‘Trinity Lakes’ development will still feature business accommodation, which the firm behind the proposals says could support up to 1,500 new jobs.
Responding to the submission of outline plans to Ashford Borough Council, residents have expressed concerns about the impact of the development on the area and its infrastructure.
One objector has told the planning authority “heavy traffic would be detrimental to the environment and also people’s health”, while another opponent of the scheme says they fear it “will overload the road system”.
The site is bordered to the north west by Sandyhurst Lane, where detached properties sell for an average price in excess of £500,000, and one resident of the desirable street says they fear it will be “merged with a large estate” which will blur the border between urban and rural areas.
However, the planning statement submitted on behalf of developers Quadrant Estates
argues the proposals should be approved to help the borough meet its demand for housing.
“The application is considered sustainable development which will provide a much needed contribution to the borough’s housing land supply whilst simultaneously providing a well-designed mixed use development contributing up to 1,500 new jobs, all within a green landscaped setting,” it says.
Reflecting concerns of neighbours, the plans include “a significant landscape buffer” of around 30 metres to the west of the site where it borders Sandyhurst Lane.
Access to the site will be from two existing junctions along Trinity Road, and an assessment made by the developers argues there will be no detrimental impact on the surrounding road network.
A spokesman for the Sandyhurst Lane Residents’ Association (SLRA), which lobbied against the larger initial plans for 600 properties, has welcomed changes to the scheme.
They said: “As a residents’ association we have worked hard to ensure that the emerging Local Plan for the site set a limit of 375 homes, required no vehicular access from Sandyhurst Lane and guaranteed a generous landscaped buffer to residential properties along Sandyhurst Lane.”
The plans propose the provision of 30% affordable housing throughout the scheme, with the rest of the properties available for sale at market price.
It is envisaged there will be around 34 acres of open space, usable by residents and the wider community, with walking and cycle routes connecting with Sandyhurst Lane.
Discussions have also been held with Stagecoach and Kent County Council regarding possible enhancements to bus route 666, which could be brought into the proposed development.
‘Heavy traffic would be detrimental to the environment and also people’s health...’