A frustrated landowner has branded a decision to block his plans for new homes next to a railway station as “crazy”.
Andrew Kirk, from London, bought the former coal yard beside Pluckley station in 1997 and says he has long harboured ambitions to redevelop it.
Once used for coal deliveries and later as a car park, the site has stood empty for years – leading Mr Kirk to flippantly suggest after the rejection: “Maybe I just need to go back and start importing coal so I can revert it back to what it was.”
His bid to turn the land into a 20-space car park with five houses has been snubbed by Ashford Borough Council (ABC), which said it was too far from basic services, would increase reliance on cars, and posed safety concerns for refuse lorries.
Network Rail also warned the scheme could block contractors needing “unfettered access to the rail access point alongside ample room to turn vehicles around”.
It is not the first setback for Mr Kirk. Last year, a plan was lodged to use the land as a site for touring caravans for a Gypsy family of 14, but that was refused by the council.
Mr Kirk then tried to follow up with the housing and car park scheme, which he later withdrew just 11 days after the Gypsy family’s application was rejected.
But he insists homes would be better than leaving the land derelict, so he resubmitted the proposal in the spring.
He said: “I am surprised by the decision and can’t really understand it.
“It’s crazy because there have been quite a few houses built on the other side of the road (Otium Lakes).
“All I’ve wanted to do is put some houses on the site, and I think that would be a lot better than now.
“I have no problem with reducing the number of homes, as it needs something doing to it.”
Since the previous application, Pluckley Parish Council worked with Kent County Council to develop the Pluckley Transport Plan, which was approved in December 2024.
It resulted in several upgrades being earmarked in a bid to improve safety in the village – something Mr Kirk believed should have helped get his scheme rubber-stamped.
These included a reduction in the speed limit on the bridge above the railway from 30mph to 20mph, plus the installation of traffic lights on the same road.
But with the proposal rejected, he now plans to push for the land to be designated as a brownfield site to widen his planning options.
His latest proposal attracted 25 objections from neighbours, with one in support.
Resident Michael Worrow, of Dering Close, previously said: “They’re just building all around this area, so I think it would be best to stop it for a little while.
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“The reason we moved here was because of how peaceful it was, but it’s not the case so much anymore.
“I just wish people took more care of Pluckley – it’s a highly-rated area and we pay a fortune to live here, but just look at it now.”
