Controversial plans for 40 homes in the heart of a village have finally been given the green light on appeal.

It comes more than three years after an outline application for the 5.5-acre plot in Woodchurch, near Ashford, was first put forward by Gladman Developments in July 2021.

Having received a fierce backlash from residents, including more than 30 objections, Ashford Borough Council (ABC) had been drawing up a report recommending the development be refused.

But after the authority missed a deadline to make a ruling, Gladman appealed to the Planning Inspectorate and won outline approval for the 40-home scheme in Front Road in November 2022.

The company, which makes outline applications on behalf of landowners, then sold the site to housebuilders Cala Homes a year later.

Cala subsequently put forward a reserved matters application in November 2023 to get the official nod for the development, which features in ABC's Local Plan up to 2030.

However, ABC refused the detailed reserved matters bid.

Planning officers said the estate would have failed "to create an inclusive and cohesive environment and would be at odds with the prevailing character of the area and would not represent principles of good design".

It was noted its countryside position would have affected the appearance of Woodchurch, while further concerns were raised regarding the site's reliance on triple tandem parking and "the overall inadequacy of visitor parking provision".

Several residents also criticised the scheme from the beginning.

One, Daphne Stafford, said: "Woodchurch does not need any more large houses. What it needs is more smaller houses that local people can afford to buy.

"Some small bungalows would also fill a need.

"I appreciate the affordable dwellings offer a good range of sizes, but this should be continued into the market housing.

"There are too many large houses making this development an over development of this rural site."

Woodchurch Parish Council cited its own concerns over the blind bend of Front Road and the development’s size.

Yet Cala's appeal has also now been allowed following a second Planning Inspectorate hearing this month - meaning construction of the development can now begin.

Of the 40 homes, 24 will be private housing with 18 featuring three bedrooms and the remaining six having four.

The 16 other properties will be classed as affordable and will range from one to four bedrooms.

This is alongside more than 70 car parking spaces, a children's play area and improvements to local bus stops on Front Road which are currently unmarked.

Cala says the housing mix "will be suitable homes for first-time buyers, families, and downsizers appropriate for what is a village location".

Meanwhile, all homes will be equipped with electric vehicle charging points, water butts and air source heat pumps - a low-carbon heating solution - to help residents reduce carbon emissions.

Measures to support wildlife will also be incorporated into the fabric of the homes, including bird nesting features, specialist hedgehog fencing, bat boxes or bat roosting tiles, dormice corridors and native tree and hedge planting.

The company is to make more than £400,000 in contributions towards local education, infrastructure and community facilities as part of the development.

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Cala's head of planning for the south east, Jessica Sparkes, said: “We’re delighted to achieve consent to deliver high-quality, much-needed homes in Ashford.

"The scheme will provide financial contributions of over £400,000 towards local education, infrastructure and community facilities.

“The submission of our plans for these 40 high-quality new homes, with 16 being affordable, is a great step towards supporting ABC with its continued requirement to ensure housing availability and affordability throughout the borough.”