The company which wants to build 1,250 homes on farmland has lodged an appeal after the controversial plan was refused.

Fruit farmers AC Goatham and Son had submitted a planning application for the housing estate on orchards off Pump Lane, Rainham .

But the proposal sparked a wave of protests from thousands of residents, councillors and environmentalists who held public meetings and plastered the area with Save Our Orchards banners and posters.

Among their fears were over-development of the rural area ,noise and pollution. They were also concerned the narrow road, already widely used, could not cope with extra traffic.

Goatham, which has farms across Kent and a base at Hoo St Werburgh , had also applied for a two-form entry primary school, a 60-bed extra care facility, an 80-bed care home, hall and village green.

The 3,000-strong band of opponents had anticipated the company would appeal after being turned down by Medway Council's planning committee in June.

Ward councillor Martin Potter (Con) said: "We have been notified of an appeal by AC Goatham challenging the refusal of their development.

"We anticipated this would be the case and the council had already appointed legal counsel to support with assessing the application last year.

"This was all about ensuring we went into this fight in the strongest possible position.

"All the correspondence, including the 3,000-plus objections from the original application, will be forwarded to the planning inspectorate.

"There is certainly no doubt this will be the most significant decision to impact Rainham in a generation and an unsuccessful outcome would likely lead to the obliteration of the entire green corridor between us and Gillingham . So to anyone who hasn't already – please join the fight."

Representations to the planning inspectorate must be made by November 16 and you can do this here by using the appeal reference 3259868

Gothams declined to comment on the matter.

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