A proposal for a housing development in the heart of a village will not go ahead.
Plans to build a new estate of 115 homes in Headcorn was submitted by Savills, on behalf of Catesby Estates, in October 2023.
The 7.42-hectare development was earmarked for agricultural land off Mote Road, about 600 metres from the village high street and primary school.
However, after more than 100 objections, including from the boss of an aerodrome, the estate has been turned down by Maidstone council.
In the rejection letter, planning officers stated the project would have caused damage to the Low Weald landscape and caused visual harm to the village’s character.
Other comments noted there was a lack of evidence of safe pedestrian and cycle access when vehicles used the A274 during flood events.
“Significant additional pressure” on Kent County Council (KCC) infrastructure, including primary and secondary education, was also cited – something which officers believed would not have been mitigated by financial contributions.
Following the decision, Catesby Estates said: “We are reviewing this decision and in turn our options moving forward.”
Of the 115 homes proposed, 72 were considered for private housing.
A further 34 would have been social housing, with another 14 homes being classed as affordable housing.
Developers said the estate would have contributed to Maidstone council meeting its housing targets.
In their planning statement, the company said: “The proposal will provide new homes which will encourage local employment opportunities.
“Moreover, job opportunities will be created during the construction of the development.
“The proposal provide new homes to meet the needs of the local areas.”
One of the objectors was Headcorn Aerodrome boss Jamie Freeman who was concerned for people living in a flight path.
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The 65-year-old explained: “With the continued expansion of housing in Headcorn, and with this planning application, we will overfly this proposed development each time an aircraft takes off.
“In this instance, we feel we would need to object to this application – unless we had the committee’s assurance that the potential purchasers had been advised that they were buying a house that was within the operating area of a busy airfield.”
