A shocked farm owner says he did not know developers had earmarked 80 acres of his farm for new houses - until he read his local newspaper.

Building firms have put forward 177 sites across the Canterbury district for Canterbury City Council to consider for inclusion in its Local Plan, which will act as its housing blueprint up until 2040.

But when maps showing all of the proposed plots were revealed in KentOnline's sister paper the Kentish Gazette, Hawe Farm owners Tim and Angela Burleigh were horrified to see huge sections of their arable land in Herne had been suggested.

The pair insist they have no intention of selling either of the plots - off Broomfield Road and behind Herne Infant School - and will be forced to move if the plans are forced through.

“The first we heard of it was when our neighbours emailed us about it, so then I got the Gazette and read the gory details,” Mr Burleigh, 65, said.

“We have no plans for that at all; we want to enjoy it as it is.

“No one’s come to us about it. It’s an appalling way to treat somebody else’s property - they wouldn’t like their garden being built on without prior permission.”

The parts of 200-acre Hawe Farm being eyed up by the unnamed developers are the largest in Herne Bay to have been put forward for inclusion in the Local Plan thus far.

And the couple say their relationship with neighbours determined to preserve the village’s “rural oasis” has been “compromised” by the announcement.

“We can assure our neighbours that, if we have any choice in the matter, we have absolutely no intention of selling land at Hawe Farm,” Mr Burleigh added.

“We are very upset at the cavalier and insensitive manner with which we, our property and our neighbours have been treated. Our relationship with those, who like us chose to live in this rural oasis for the peace and wildlife it offers, has been compromised.

“If such a plan is steamrollered through, we would have no option but to move out of the area.”

Mr Burleigh says the plots, which have public footpaths running through it, are currently used to grow crops, like wheat and broad beans.

Herne and Broomfield councillor Joe Howes has received dozens of messages from residents concerned about the plans for the farmland.

The Tory believes the local authority should block any moves to build on the sites, pointing to the fact 800 homes are already set to be built in the village at Strode Farm.

“Anybody can put planning permission on a piece of land without consent,” Cllr Howes explained.

“If I was the landowner, though, I would have liked to have been informed. It’s somebody’s moral obligation to do that.”

“Anybody can put planning permission on a piece of land without consent..."

City council spokesman Rob Davies said: “Although it is not unheard of for sites to be put forward without the landowner’s knowledge, it is fairly unusual.

“No assessment has been made of the suitability of any sites yet. We will need to establish if the landowner is willing to make the land available for development, otherwise it is unlikely to proceed.

“Given the concerns the landowner has raised, we will be in touch with them to discuss the matter further.”

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