Plans for the second phase of a housing estate adding almost 150 new properties to a village have been given the green light.
Quinn Estates has been granted approval by Folkestone and Hythe District Council (FHDC) for the project in Sellindge after almost two years.
The site received outline permission for up to 162 homes in 2019, with 34 built after receiving reserved matters approval in 2022.
Now, the newly approved application, submitted in September 2023, means phase 1b and two can be built and will feature 24 self-build plots and 124 homes, respectively.
It means the total amount of homes has increased by 20 dwellings from the initial 2019 proposals, bringing the total allowed on the land in the village between Ashford and Folkestone to 182 homes.
The proposal includes a mixture of two, three, four and five-bedroom properties as well as one-bedroom apartments and the site’s affordable housing provision of 40 homes.
Although full permission has been granted for phase two, the subsequent self-build plots will still require reserved matters approval on a case-by-case basis.
Officers granted approval for the 15-acre site last month.
Their report stated: “Overall, it is considered the proposed residential development of the site would be acceptable and that any residual impact can be mitigated through the imposition of suitable planning conditions.
“In balancing the environmental, social and economic impacts arising from the proposal, it is concluded that it presents a sustainable form of development, which is at the heart of local planning policies.”
In total, seven objections were registered on FHDC’s planning portal with no comments in support.
Jeremy P Bedford commented: “The proposed development is one too many for the village of Sellindge.
“Local people did not object to phase one as we recognised the need for new housing in the south of England, but this proposal, and others in the pipeline, are too much.
“If they go ahead, it will change Sellindge from a village into a town, stretch local services to breaking point and lead to further congestion.”
Kirsty Cook added: “Having experienced traffic lights for many months in the village with phase one, I must object to the lack of consideration for existing residents.
“The A20 was used as a staff car park, but very few were working on getting the road open. Every single morning, we were woken by traffic.
“Widening the road to accommodate phase one has impacted traffic as it now speeds through the village.
“You cannot keep putting more houses onto the A20 when there is a single-file bridge because in the Barrow Hill area, residents struggle to leave their driveways. There are not enough facilities in place for more residents.”
Speaking on the approval, a Quinn Homes spokesperson said: “We’re pleased that the next phase of our award-winning scheme at Grove Park has been approved.
“This welcome decision by Folkestone and Hythe District Council will allow us to commence work on a collection of two- and three-bedroom homes coming in our second phase.
“This stunning collection will help to answer local housing needs, including 40 affordable homes.
“With Grove Park, we have put down a marker for sustainable rural living as we continue to deliver Kent’s largest EPC ‘A’ rated development.
“A park and nature reserve also forms part of the final design along with our continued commitment to having a swift brick [allowing birds to nest] in every house we build here, alongside the planting of hundreds of trees as we create a beautiful, landscape-led new development.”
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It is not yet confirmed when construction will begin on the next phase.
Recently, plans have been submitted for 17 new homes in Sellindge despite residents arguing the area is already overdeveloped.
The scheme looks to build the new dwellings on a 1.7-acre plot of overgrown former farmland south of The Mount in Barrow Hill.
