Controversial plans to tear down a 1960s bungalow and replace it with dozens of new homes have been refused.
Earlier this year, proposals were submitted for the plot of land off A28 Ashford Road in St Michaels, near Tenterden.
In total, 55 houses were proposed with a mix of two, three and four bedrooms, of which 23 would be classed as affordable housing.
The application included 143 vehicle parking spaces, as well as two new bus stops along Ashford Road.
But ABC’s planning officers recommended the scheme be turned down, stating it would cause significant harm to the character and appearance of the surrounding area.
There were concerns that the site, known as Six Acres, lacked easy access to local services and facilities for the size of the development.
A Section 106 agreement, which secures money for local services, was also yet to be agreed and was viewed as a “significant failing” of the application.
However, Cllr Brendan Chilton (Lab) questioned whether a refusal of the scheme would survive the appeal process because ABC, which is run by an Ashford Independents/Green Party coalition, does not currently have a five-year housing supply plan in place, which is a government requirement.
In recent years, housebuilding in the area has been hampered by water quality and pollution issues on the Stodmarsh Nature Reserve near Canterbury, which is part of the River Stour catchment area.
But officers stated that on the balance of planning matters, the reasons for refusal outweighed the lack of housing supply.
Cllr Ray McGeever (Ind) thought the site was simply in the wrong place as the debate began at ABC’s planning committee meeting on June 18.
He said: “I do consider Cllr Chilton’s views on the idea because we’ve got a lack of housing, we could lose on this if the developer were to take us to appeal.
“But I agree that all the negatives the officers have brought up in this case totally outweigh the isolated positive.
“I would like to recommend that we refuse this and follow the officer’s recommendation.”
On behalf of the applicants, Alice Day stated the scheme would deliver immense benefits for the area.
She said: “The delivery of residential development across the borough is hampered by issues relating to Stodmarsh, [but] this proposed site is located outside the catchment and could be delivered in the short term.
“As the council acknowledged within its report, it is currently unable to provide a five-year supply of deliverable housing sites.
“The delivery of 55 new family homes, including policy-compliant levels of affordable housing, which would contribute towards meeting the council’s housing targets in an unconstrained location.
“The creation of two new bus stops will improve connectivity for existing and future residents.”
But Cllr Kate Walder (Green) noted the lack of sustainability at the site’s location despite its close proximity to St Michaels Primary School.
She said: “We’ve got a kebab shop, an ironmonger’s and that’s about it. Anybody living here will be going either into Tenterden or to Ashford, and they’ll be going by car.
“Two new bus stops are lovely, but there are no buses to serve them and anybody who tried to cycle that route would probably have a death wish.
“This is the last thing that St Michael’s needs.”
Overall, the application received 13 votes to refuse and one abstention.
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Reacting to the decision, a spokesperson for Tenterden Town Council, which had objected to the scheme, said: “The town council has been taking a strategic and proactive approach to any future housing developments which the town may have to accept.
“Unfortunately, until Ashford can show it achieves a five-year housing supply, Tenterden is susceptible to speculative proposals for house-building.
“Last year, Ashford put out a call to developers for any likely build sites across the borough, and a very large number of 21 proposals were submitted for Tenterden and its surroundings.
“The town council assessed all of these thoroughly and rejected most of them.”
