Controversial plans for a 42-home project on a busy road have been approved.

Despite fears from people living nearby that more houses would lead to traffic problems, the development in Hermitage Lane, Maidstone, was given the green light.

The site is just a stone's throw away from the town’s hospital, along a road which is often plagued with congestion.

When proposals for the site were submitted in April 2022 by Esquire Developments, it led to dozens of objections from residents concerned there was too much housing, which would strain the road.

At the time, Allington resident Shirley Manley said: “There is more than enough new housing on Hermitage Lane without any thought given to the surrounding infrastructure.

“It’s starting to look like we are fighting the Post Office whenever we object. Leave some green space to absorb the future amount of rainfall expected due to climate change. Absolutely no justification for these houses to be built.”

While Matt Thomas, also from Allington, said: “I strongly oppose the proposed development on this plot, as well as any future development plans in the area.

“The traffic situation on Hermitage Lane is already at a breaking point throughout the day. This is largely due to the traffic lights near McDonald's and the recent increase in housing at Hermitage Park and The Poppies.

“Such additional development could exacerbate the problem, potentially hindering ambulances en route to and from the hospital, which are already facing challenges due to frequent gridlocks.”

Mr Thomas went on to say that Barming Station, which is on the road, was “poorly maintained, underfunded and ill-equipped” to handle an influx of commuters from the new and proposed housing.

Another person living in the area previously described the development as “a disgrace”, adding: “The doctors are full and so are the schools. Hermitage Lane traffic has become unbearable and it is becoming an unpleasant place to live.

“Any more houses in this area is going to ruin it and will make the area less desirable.”

Find out about planning applications that affect you at the Public Notice Portal, Use reference 22/502027/FULL for the relevant documents.

The site is approximately 2.52 hectares in size and currently comprises of two fields.

The lower field, and smaller of the two, fronts Hermitage Lane, while the larger field, to the east, is more open with a few trees dotted along the eastern boundary and hedgerow near the public footpath route.

Recently, Maidstone council gave their views on proposals for a new village with 1.300 homes which would affect traffic in Hermitage Lane.

The local authority gave a clear message that they didn’t want anything to be approved due to plans for two new access points – two of which would be onto Hermitage Lane, close to Barming Station.

At the time, Tory councillor Stan Forecast said: “For our residents, being constantly stuck in traffic, unable to see a doctor, your child travelling miles because nearby schools are full - it’s all very seriously damaging to their quality of life.”