Rising costs of construction have scuppered plans for a lakeside pub and restaurant where scores of new homes are being built.

Shepherd Neame had been in talks with Ashford Borough Council (ABC) about launching a site at Conningbrook Lakes Country Park off Willesborough Road.

But the Faversham brewery says a “significant increase” in construction means the development can no longer go ahead.

It comes after plans for the second phase of the Conningbrook Lakes housing development were approved by ABC.

Three-hundred homes have already been built in the area, and now a further 170 have been green-lit for land bordering the Julie Rose Stadium.

KentOnline was told in 2018 how Shepherd Neame had planned to open the waterside pub and restaurant on land overlooking one of the lakes.

But John Barnes, the brewery’s head of professional property services, said this week how the company is no longer planning to continue with the scheme.

“We are always actively looking for opportunities to grow our high-quality estate,” he said.

"Our team undertook preliminary discussions with ABC about developing a new waterside pub and restaurant at the Conningbrook Lakes site back in 2018.

"Since that time, however, the costs of construction have increased significantly and it is no longer economical for us to continue the project."

The dashed plans come just days after ABC announced it is intending to attract new businesses to the country park.

The authority has secured funding through Section 106 contributions to make improvements and add more facilities to the site.

Its cabinet member for parks, recreation and legal, Kate Walder (Green, Rolvenden and Tenterden West), says the council is attempting to find out whether any traders would plan on becoming part of the development.

When asked though whether the brewery's decision could affect these plans, a spokesman for ABC said: "We are aware of Shepherd Neame’s position, however the plan is still the same which is to make Conningbrook Lakes a destination country park.

"As always, we are open to hearing ideas from the community and seeking new organisations and businesses who are interested in operating from Conningbrook Lakes.

"We are open to all potential suggestions in line with the masterplan for Conningbrook Lakes."

The now-approved 170 homes come just four months after developers Quinn Estates submitted a separate outline application to ABC for 180 properties on a 22.4-acre plot off Kennington Road just 900 metres away.

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.

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.

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

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

In total, it could lead to about 1,400 homes being built within 988 acres.