Plans to develop a new estate comprising 120 homes along with a medical centre in Horsmonden, a small village in Kent, have received approval from the Tunbridge Wells Borough Council’s planning committee. The decision was made during a committee meeting this week, despite substantial opposition from the local community.

The proposal, submitted by Persimmon Homes, attracted 223 objections, including formal complaints from the Bassetts Farm Forum, two local parish councils, and former Conservative MP Greg Clark. Key concerns cited by residents ranged from the appropriateness of the estate’s size for the village, to worries about flooding, light pollution, sewage disposal, and increased traffic in the area. Residents also questioned the necessity of five-bedroom homes in what they deemed an unsuitable location.

There are plans to allocate 40 per cent, equating to 48 affordable homes, within the development on land at Bassetts Farm, located off Goudhurst Road. Notably, the original proposal for 163 homes was modified after community feedback, resulting in the current application being significantly reduced. The site spans over 38 acres and is part of the borough council's emerging Local Plan, which anticipates the construction of up to 165 homes on this plot. Persimmon Homes intends to reserve almost 70 per cent of the area for public open space, which includes allotments and even a designated area of 0.25 hectares for the medical centre.

Horsmonden is situated just under 10 miles away from Tunbridge Wells and is adjacent to the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The development site is particularly notable for its proximity to the remnants of the former Hop Pickers' Railway Line, which operated between 1892 and 1961. This railway once connected important rural areas significant to local hop cultivation, including Paddock Wood, Goudhurst, Cranbrook, and Hawkhurst, facilitating travel for London residents visiting for hop-picking holidays.

The outcomes of this planning decision will undoubtedly impact the character and infrastructure of Horsmonden as the village moves forward in adapting to the proposed development.

Source: Noah Wire Services