Ashford residents in Willesborough Lees and Kennington hit out at plans for 1,400 homes in area

Furious residents say housebuilding has spiralled out of control as 1,400 homes are planned across just 1.5 square miles of Ashford.

We sent KentOnline reporter Joe Harbert out to speak to neighbours worried what impact the latest "mad" proposal will have on their area...

“Crossing Kennington Road is already horrifically dangerous because of the number of cars,” was the reaction 80-year-old Joan Cossey had to a proposed estate of 180 homes in Willesborough Lees.

It comes after developers Quinn Estates submitted an outline application to Ashford Borough Council (ABC) for the properties on a 22.4-acre plot off Kennington Road (A2070).

Featuring two three, four and five-bedroom houses, the project, called Kingsland Green, could be built on a field next to Givaudan perfume factory and the M20.

If approved, the development would be the fourth to begin construction on the 1.8-mile stretch from the William Harvey Hospital to the Conningbrook Hotel in Kennington.

The biggest - another Quinn Estates project known as Crown Hill View or 'Large Burton' - will feature 725 homes in front of the hotel, of which 288 homes are already under construction.

Outline permission for another 437 as part of phase two has also been approved, with full plans expected soon.

Meanwhile, the first phase of Conningbrook Lakes, featuring 300 homes, is on the verge of completion, with its second phase of 170 properties to follow should it be given the nod by planning officers.

Developer Tolman Homes is also close to building 16 homes, known as Grasslands, directly adjacent to Kingsland Green in Abbey Way.

In total, it could lead to four developments and almost 1,500 homes being built within a space of 988 acres.

It has led Mrs Cossey, who has lived in Willesborough Lees for 11 years, to criticise Bridge-based Quinn Estates for the company’s latest potential project.

“We just need less houses being built in Ashford, especially on greenfield sites where it floods," the Longbridge resident said.

"We have decided to drive when we want to post a letter now because it’s too scary to walk along Kennington Road and have to zigzag across the street.

“So many homes also have three or four cars now, so I can't believe more could be coming.

“There are also no buses which go from Little Burton in Kennington to the hospital, which we need."

Meanwhile, Angie Davidson has lived in Wilson Close, off Kennington Road, for 11 years.

When asked how she felt about Kingsland Green going ahead, she replied: “The road has just changed so much.

“I love the walk along the path where the new houses would be from Cradlebridge Drive to Kennington Road - you can see all the seasons as you walk past.

“But there will be no green left in it soon."

If approved, Kingsland Green would comprise 126 private houses.

It would also include 18 social homes, 23 affordable properties and 13 starter homes.

However, medical practitioner Gurpreet Bhinder says he is worried given congestion is already at an all-time-high.

The 52-year-old, who has lived in Waltham Close since 2018, explained: "Getting to the William Harvey Hospital takes a long time at peak hours with traffic jams getting worse.

“So I was certainly surprised to hear plans for so many homes in the field.

“I just think there is so much land elsewhere away from narrow roads.

“I’m not too sure why this area is being targeted for so many houses."

Quinn Estates says the two-storey homes will be accessed via a new junction on a bend off the A2070.

Despite the plans being proposed near land notorious for flooding, developers acknowledge a wetland will be created to minimise the issue.

An ecological area featuring a woodland would also be created in the south-west corner, alongside landscaped green spaces and walking trails.

Ms Davidson, though, believes it won't solve growing environmental problems in the area.

“Wildlife is a huge worry which those involved don’t care about," she added.

“There are visibly less bees and badgers now and always dead animals like hedgehogs in Kennington Road which never used to happen.

“From a wildlife perspective the plan is dreadful.”

However, residents say the biggest concern with the developments across east Ashford is the strain they are placing on public services.

Kennington Road's Kathy Weller and Richard Manning, of Blackwall Road North, both say this is alongside safety concerns.

Ms Weller, 69, explained: "I worry about infrastructure being so close to the hospital, but also about people’s safety.

“You’d have thought Conningbrook Lakes and Crown Hill View was enough already.

“There are more cars than ever before in the 23 years I have been here and it’s causing more accidents at the junction with Blackwall Road South.

“A lot of people don’t even know there is a new development down that road called Pine Way which has quite a few houses, plus you already have Kings Chase and Little Burton.

“But in terms of these 180 homes, I’d be very concerned about moving there if it gets built.

“I would certainly be interested to know how safe it is with the flooding which happens there.”

Mr Manning, 55, added: "I moved to Blackwall Road North four years ago.

“We didn’t know when we moved how many homes were planning to be built here and it’s why I always put an objection in.

“It sounds obvious but 1,000 homes could equate to about 4,000 people.

“There’s thousands of cars, regular crashes and near-misses now as the road goes from 40 to 30mph on what is already a fast-flowing road.

“So the area has just become over-diversified with a lack of infrastructure.

“I used to live in Whitstable and still have to go there for a dentist appointment as I have no chance of getting one here.

“Developers just want their money and then leave the carnage here, so another building site is just mad.”

ABC's current Local Plan was adopted in February 2019 and earmarks the borough's sites for potential new homes up to 2030.

Despite the proposal for Kingsland Green not featuring in the latest Plan, the authority, which is run by an Ashford Independents/Green Party coalition, has noted the plot in its “call for sites” list.

This is a list allowing residents, landowners and developers to suggest plots that they would like to be considered for development ahead of ABC's upcoming Local Plan to 2041.

A consultation was carried out between September and November 2023 across the borough in which Quinn Estates suggested the plot for Kingsland Green should be used for housing.

It comes at the same time ABC continues to face difficulties with its housing targets - despite its aim of building 2,292 new homes between 2019 and 2022 being exceeded by more than 7%.

Speaking previously, a spokesman for ABC explained: “We have been unable to demonstrate a five-year supply of housing land since 2020.

“It is a challenge many councils face and doesn’t mean that any housing proposal will be required to be granted planning permission.

“The council has an adopted Local Plan in place, and this still provides an up-to-date policy framework to determine planning applications.

“We are also in the process of reviewing the Local Plan, in line with the government’s requirements, and this will provide a mechanism to rectify the land supply position in due course.”

Quinn Estates therefore argues the project will resolve some of Ashford's "housing delivery issues".

Information released by the company on the application's planning documents reads: "Kingsland Green presents a unique opportunity to deliver a new residential community in Willesborough Lees, to the east of Ashford.

"The aim is to contribute to meeting an identified need for family housing, including delivering affordable homes.

"The delivery of up to 180 dwellings on this site would support the delivery of the wetland which in turn could unlock housing on other sites and assist Ashford in resolving its housing delivery issues."

Meanwhile, Redrow - which is currently building the first homes at Crown Hill View - says the area’s biggest project will benefit residents and public services.

A spokesman said: “As well as delivering up to 725 much-needed, energy efficient new homes, 30% of which will be classed as affordable, we will be contributing in excess of £14m to the Ashford community.

“This funding will support essential public services and includes over £1.7m for highway improvement works and £5m towards new and existing primary and secondary schools in the local area.”

However, Cllr Liz Wright has echoed the views of residents within her Willesborough Lees ward regarding too many homes being in the area.

The Green Party representative - cabinet member for communities, health and wellbeing - explained: "We have had enormous problems with traffic.

"Lorries roar past there coming from Canterbury and it shakes houses.

"So the thought of more traffic which the development would no doubt generate is something of great concern.

Find out about planning applications that affect you by visiting the Public Notice Portal.

"The infrastructure is not in place with people facing waiting lists for GPs and schools, so I would definitely support residents on this.

"I know there is a need for housing, but I don't think enough is being done to use brownfield sites for it."

A decision on whether Kingsland Green receives approval for its outline application is expected by September 17.