A developer’s controversial bid to scrap plans for an estate of “executive mansion homes” and build more family houses instead has been given the green light.

Pentland Homes had already secured permission for a luxury development of 28 properties in Lyminge, near Folkestone, but sparked a huge backlash after unveiling reworked proposals for 44 smaller homes.

The fresh application attracted 53 official objections, with one resident claiming the village is “being sacrificed on the altar of the council’s drive to provide more housing”.

But as the plans for the site off Broad Street were decided by councillors, one local woman put her head above the parapet to argue the Elham Valley should not just be for the “super rich”.

Mum-of-one Chani Sanger spoke out in support of the proposal, which offers Lyminge residents first refusal on 10 affordable homes on the development.

“This district, as you all know, is in dire need of social homes, and places in the Elham Valley should not be only accessible to the super rich,” she told Folkestone and Hythe District Council’s planning committee on Tuesday.

“Local businesses and community groups are struggling, we’re in a cost-of-living crisis and need to do whatever we can to help those groups survive.

“Maybe more people in the village will add much needed lifeblood.”

The self-employed 30-year-old noted how her speaking in favour of the scheme may be “controversial”, but added: “I know people who support the development but are too afraid of the public backlash if they show support.

“I don’t own my own home, and I am from a generation where home ownership seems to be an impossible dream in the south of England, let alone the Elham Valley.

“I’m speaking to you as someone who loves this village, our village, but doesn’t love it from an incredible position of privilege.

“I would one day love to own a home here, as many people would.

“I may support this development but I do agree that the whole system needs overhauling as it is currently set up to support profit above all else.”

Folkestone’s Civic Centre was packed for the meeting, with several residents offering their views publicly before the plans were decided.

Villager of 49 years Sheamus Mare decried the move to build a larger 44-home development, plus a self-build plot, when already “spades are in the ground” to build the original estate.

“My question is what happened between last year and this year to create a proposal to build 45 houses on the same plot?” he asked.

“Together with 80% of the village I am against the plan - it should never have been progressed.”

“The whole tone of the plans is ‘big brother, we know what’s best for you in Lyminge’.”

Cllr Roger Joyce, the vice-chairman of Lyminge Parish Council, also attended to criticise the scheme, claiming he “speaks on behalf of the majority of the residents who object to this proposal”.

“You can judge the scale of opposition from the volume of objections on the public register,” he said.

“In common with many communities round the country, Lyminge is being sacrificed on the altar of the council’s drive to provide more housing.”

Cllr Joyce suggested Pentland Homes could instead create “something truly innovative on this site – a smaller number of eco-houses”.

The plans state that the residential buildings will be two-storey, and a mix of terraced, semi-detached and detached homes.

Pentland Homes agent Lucy Wilford attended to back the bid, saying that with the increase in the number of homes planned “this application simply seeks to make the most efficient use of the site”.

The site has been earmarked for residential development in the district’s Local Plan.

“The uplift in the number of homes makes the best use of this sustainable site, reducing pressure on the need to release other greenfield sites for development, to meet identified housing needs, while also providing a greater number of affordable homes,” Ms Wilford added.

She also explained how after submitting the application, Pentland reduced the planned scale slightly from 47 homes to 44.

Cllr Clive Goddard (Con) said “44 houses I think would fit in there pretty well”, and proposed the committee approve the move, which it did by seven votes to two, with one abstention.

For more planning applications visit the public notice portal by clicking here.