Expressing his concerns regarding the plan, Cllr Harry McKenzie (Lab) acknowledged there “are some positive elements” to the plans but felt there were “significant concerns”.
“This is not opposition to all development, we recognise the severity of the housing crisis and the need for growth – this is merely voicing legitimate concerns,” said the Sturry ward member.
“In terms of road safety, residents have long raised concerns over traffic congestion, the narrow road width and constant speeding.
“Many families are already having to travel to Canterbury or Herne Bay to access essential services.”
Dissatisfaction regarding the plans has been widespread, with Sturry residents keen to put forward their objections to the scheme.
Concerns raised include the suitability of the land for housing, the number of new builds already in the area and the lack of support for existing infrastructure.
Objecting to the latest plans, David Coupe wrote: “As a resident of Sturry I believe that we have suffered enough with the construction of the new Woodlands estate.
“There’s no mention of new schools or new doctors surgeries. It’s already hard enough to get an appointment as it is.
“You cannot just keep building more and more houses without the infrastructure to support them. It just will not work.”
The area has already seen hundreds of properties pop up in recent years, with more than 1,000 homes either built or earmarked for land off the A28 Sturry Hill.
Popes Lane is opposite a new 465-home estate known as Woodlands, the construction of which has sparked road closures in the area.
But despite Cllr McKenzie’s concerns, as well as the staunch opposition put forward by residents, council chiefs said the lack of a five-year plan for housebuilding in the district made it hard to argue against the project.
CCC planning officials said: “There is a clear evidenced need for housing, including affordable housing in the district.
“The council cannot demonstrate a 5-year supply of housing, nor has the amount of housing that is needed to meet local housing needs.
“The grant of planning permission for this development would allow for much-needed housing to be delivered in the district, including 30% affordable housing.
“A financial contribution of £2.6 million is to be secured to assist in the delivery of the Sturry Link Road through the S106 agreement.”
The Sturry Link Road – a £40 million project to connect the A291 Sturry Hill to midway down the A28 Sturry Road – is hoped to ease congestion around the area.
But years after the scheme was first proposed, work to construct the bypass is not expected to begin until April 2026.
The developer says 30% of the homes will be affordable and include some bungalows, and the estate would also include two children’s play areas, a picnic area and allotments.
Two new ponds and a wildflower meadow will “provide space for ecological enhancement and help to achieve a net-gain in biodiversity,” say the plans.
The 23-acre plot has attracted developers’ attention for many years, beginning in 1997, when plans for 88 homes were rejected.
Developer Bryant Homes Weald attempted to overturn the decision, but later withdrew its appeal to the government’s Planning Inspectorate.
In 2018, Gladman Developments tried its hand at building on the site, putting forward an outline planning application for up to 140 homes that attracted almost 70 objections.
CCC refused the scheme, saying it would be a “significant development outside the village confines of Sturry”, and “would result in a loss of best and most versatile agricultural land”.
The authority also cited local traffic concerns.
Gladman appealed the decision, but the Planning Inspectorate upheld the authority’s ruling based solely on highway impact.
Yet undeterred, the developer lodged this most recent outline application for up to 120 homes on the site in September 2023.
