Councillors voted to defer a controversial application for nearly 200 homes on a much-loved field, over concerns about open space.

Developer Taylor Wimpey has applied to build 187 houses on land off Oakapple Lane in Barming, known locally as the pea field, but the proposals have been met with fierce objections by residents, who are concerned about a risk of sinkholes, more traffic and the impact on wildlife.

Maidstone Borough Council's (MBC) planning committee was due to make a decision tonight, but voted unanimously to defer and asked the developer to come back with amended plans to the layout.

Planning policy laid out in the council's adopted local plan requires that 1.5 hectares of natural or semi- natural open space be provided, together with any additional on-site provision/ improvements and/or contributions towards provisions off-site.

However, committee chairman Cllr Clive English questioned whether this development fitted that requirement.

He said: "I'm not sure this is actually an application in an acceptable condition to be determined this evening."

Ahead of the meeting, council officers had recommended the proposals were approved, pointing out that open space areas are provided around and integrated through the development.

This was described as a better design approach, rather than having the 187 houses and open space areas distinctly separate.

However, councillors agreed they wanted to see an allocated recreational space next time the plans came before them.

Cllr Jonathan Purle said: "This takes away open space that's currently there and basically cheats residents when it comes to giving back what the local plan promised them."

Cllr Bryan Vizzard said: "It doesn't give the residents anywhere to play."

Although private land, the pea field is used by residents for dog walking, running and cycling.

The application was also deferred over concerns about a lack of space for biodiversity.

Taylor Wimpey has said it could contribute to a proposed roundabout scheme to help solve congestion in Barming, costed at more than £3million, which MBC doesn't have the cash for.

Cllr English said he would like clarity on whether Taylor Wimpey could put cash towards the scheme.

There has been a history of sinkholes in the area, and campaign group Give Peas a Chance said during the meeting that further house building could lead to more.

Last month, a hole was found on a reservoir, off Hermitage Lane, prompting MPs Helen Grant and Tracey Crouch to ask the Government for an urgent halt to house building.

A site investigation report which accompanied the application acknowledged the recent sinkholes, but recommended that ground conditions can be managed through the design of foundations and infrastructure.

The developer has submitted an application on part of the field, which falls under Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council's jurisdiction, for 118 homes. This has yet to be hard.

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