Homes scheme Village ‘swamped’ by houses
near woodland LAND east of Gleaming Wood Drive in Lordswood has been earmarked for a development of about 89 new houses. An outline application by
Palm Developments says the homes would be built on two parcels of open countryside to- talling 4.05 hectares – currently in equestrian use – to the east of ancient woodland at Reeds Croft Wood and north of Westfield Sole Road. The homes would be powered
by a biomass woodchip plant, according to a statement by town planners Brownfields, which calls the scheme the Lordswood Urban Extension. An unsuccessful application
for housing on the land was sub- mitted byWard Homes 20 years ago.
The statement adds: “It is ac- cepted that development on the application site, in any form, is constrained by the presence of the surrounding ancient wood- land. However, the proposal has addressed both issues through a sensitive approach to the wood- land and landscaping.” The applicant says thiswill in-
clude a 15m wide buffer zone, retention of existing bunding and deciduous trees, provision of a children’s play space and street calming measures. Maidstone Council will deter- mine the application.
ANOTHER plan for houses in Harrietsham is expected to be submitted to the borough coun- cil.
The proposal for 40 homes on
eight acres of open fields off Court Lodge Lane – on the edge of the village’s Area of Out- standing Natural Beauty – is being put together by Hillreed Homes. It follows recent plans by
Bovis for 106 homes in Tong’s Meadow, a suggested 80 homes at Bell Farm, East Street, on top of the 80 homes taking shape on the Crest development off West Street. The influx of applications has
led some villagers to speak out. West Street resident Paul
Hicks (65) said: “I’m not a Nimby, I’m not anti-develop- ment, but enough is enough. Mid-Kent is going to disappear under concrete if we carry on like this.” Mr Hicks – who returned to
the village in the 1970s – says developers are now “queuing up to build in the area” because of its good links and the absence of a Core Strategy for the bor- ough. He said: “As a result, green-
field sites are being jumped on, when there is plenty of evi- dence to suggest that there are enough brown sites across the country for millions of houses.
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Bovis is planning 106 homes in Tong’s Meadow “Harrietsham doesn’t need all
these houses and we now have enough affordable homes for villagers, but the parish council says it is being pressured by the borough and the borough by Government. Whatever the story, local people are being ig- nored and we feel very let down.” He hopes a neighbourhood
plan being worked on by the parish council may provide some control on housing, which otherwise seemed to be running out of control. Neighbour Amanda Chinnery
said: “In the past we have seen steady, small-scale develop- ment here, but the recent scale of development is not sustain- able and threatens to swamp the village.
“Unfortunately, Harrietsham
has been targeted for growth – with the support of our parish
council – and landowners and developers see it as an open door. If we are not careful, Har- rietsham will change from a small, characterful village to a large sprawling housing estate in a few short years. “We were assured develop-
ment would be sensitive and sympathetic, but the proposed destruction of Tong's Meadow can hardly be called that. “Many villagers are unhappy
about the proposals but no-one is listening. The parish council seems to be supporting this massive expansion, so if vil- lagers don't want this for Harri- etsham, it's essential they tell the parish council how they feel.” Developers say its plans for Court Lodge Lane will include an area for a community park or nature reserve and a footpath to the station through the estate.
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