A prolific development company has launched an appeal after controversial plans for 212 riverside flats in Ashford were rejected.

East Stour Park, the Quinn Estates project earmarked for a 6.6-acre site off Romney Marsh Road, was thrown out by Ashford Borough Council’s planning committee by 15 votes to one in February.

But the developers have now called for a hearing to be held in a bid to have the decision, which went against the council officer’s recommendation, overturned.

They want to build six apartment blocks and 255 car park spaces on the site, which is within a flood zone and green corridor, just a stone's throw away from the Ashford Designer Outlet.

In documents submitted to the council, agents acting on the Bridge-based firm’s behalf asked for the appeal to be considered at a hearing rather than by written representations.

They noted a mix of considerations - including flooding, highways and drainage - and said the issues could “only be fully explored by way of a structured discussion” at a meeting.

The developers are set to challenge thecouncil’s housing position, claiming the authority can no longer provide a five-year housing land supply.

The National Planning Policy Framework requires the authority to annually identify and update a supply of specific sites sufficient to provide a minimum five years’ worth of housing against its housing requirement.

Q+A Planning - the agent working on behalf of Quinn Estates - claims the borough council’s level is currently “marginal,” with 5.12 years supply.

They say the council has been required to produce an action plan since it “only delivered 88% of the required housing last year”.

“It is the appellant’s case that the council can no longer provide a five-year housing supply,” Q+A said.

“It is essential the appellant has the opportunity to explore the details of the council’s housing land supply as part of a structured discussion and challenge the figures currently provided.”

In a housing update issued last November, the council said it can demonstrate a five-year land supply of 5.12 years, including a 5% buffer.

In it’s Local Plan - a blueprint which sets out where new properties will be built - 16,872 homes will be constructed between 2011 and 2030, an annual requirement of 888.

This week, a council spokesman said: “The council is reviewing its housing land supply position at the moment in light of recent housing delivery which has been affected by Covid-19 restrictions over recent months but, for the present, it considers it can demonstrate a deliverable five-year housing land supply.”

The East Stour Park appeal hearing is set to be held over two days from Wednesday, December 9.

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