Developers have hit back at claims a new housing development on farmland will be plagued by flooding and traffic problems.

An application was submitted to Maidstone council in November for up to 112 homes in Yalding.

The proposed 95,000 sq m development was earmarked for the western edge of the village, on two parcels of land north and south of Kenward Road, currently occupied by polytunnels.

If approved, 45 of the proposed 112 homes would be classed as affordable.

However, sitting between three rivers – the Beult, Teise and Medway – the area is notorious for being at risk of flooding.

Yalding Parish Council "strongly" objected to the plans when they were submitted.

The local authority fears the housing will affect how surface water drains from the site with the application not sufficiently addressing the potential presence of springs on the plot.

Yet consultants Brookbanks, on behalf of developers Hallam Land Management (HLM), have hit back at the comments saying the issues will not affect potential new homeowners.

Responding directly to the parish council, a statement read: "The proposed development will provide formal drainage, removing that additional volume of runoff going into the western ditch.

"Through a series of sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) features, including source control, storage and delaying features, all water from impermeable areas directed to a main detention feature will ensure that after development the issues identified cannot occur".

The parish council also raised concerns over the effects of more cars in the village.

It said: "Despite having a railway station, located some way out of the village, the realistic day-to-day choice of transport other than private cars is limited.

"Bus services are [also] very limited and, as they primarily serve a widely dispersed and rural population, are under constant threat of review given current financial constraints.

"It is no surprise over 63% of local residents use a car for their journey to work.

"A continuing high level of car use into the future must be realistically assumed".

The council also says traffic surveys, submitted as part of the application, were carried out in October 2021 when the Covid pandemic was still in full swing, and does not provide a true reflection of traffic levels in the area.

However, developers have once more argued increased traffic in the village will not materialise.

They say measures have been put in place to encourage residents to use more sustainable modes of travel, including the provision of “taster” tickets to use on local bus services.

Meanwhile, step-free routes will be provided to make access to nearby bus stops and local facilities more suitable for homeowners, alongside homes being provided with broadband internet connection.

HLM says this will ensure home working will be a “practical solution to avoid any trips at all”.

The project has been earmarked as a site for potential development in Maidstone council’s local plan review, which was approved earlier this month.

A report by the planning inspectorate, David Spencer, noted the plan “to be ineffective and therefore not sound” due to its position “on the more sensitive area of land south of Kenward Road”.

Maidstone council leader David Burton, who represents Yalding, says an ongoing housing crisis means such developments are need to be put forward.

He said: “You can make arguments for and against the site.

"Significantly though, the site has been adopted as part of Maidstone's local plan.

"Of course, issues such as flooding will be dealt with by the planning committee at the time.

"There's a very large employment site at the edge of Yalding which is being developed as we speak (Yalding Enterprise Park), so there will be a massive number of local jobs available.

"In an ideal world we wouldn't be building any new houses on greenfield sites, but the housing crisis means we have to face up to these difficult decisions".

But application has also worried existing residents.

Karen Jenkins, of Medway Avenue, said: “Town Bridge is chaotic at peak times with traffic backing up past Vicarage Road and the Lees.

“The strain on local services, particularly the school, does it have enough places? And does the doctors' surgery have capacity?”

However, businessman Dan Mahendran, who is reopening the George pub as a takeaway and convenience store, disagrees.

He added: “I would welcome more homes for my business.

“We could have more customers at our shop, but also at some of the other local businesses here.”

Meanwhile, Kent County Council (KCC) has also raised a holding objection to the proposal.

Its highways team says more information is required regarding similar concerns about the likes of parking, the development’s likely impact at Town Bridge and whether the trip distribution methodology carried out in October 2021 remains “sufficiently robust”.

To see more planning applications and other public notices for your area, click here.

A decision on the development was expected by February 27 but so far a final determination has not been made.