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Land earmarked for 80 homes in Victoria Road, Littlestone, Romney Marsh, listed for £4 million by Hobbs Parker

16:04, 07 August 2024

The fate of 80 new homes has been left uncertain after land earmarked for the development hit the market for £4 million.

Outline planning permission has already been granted for the new builds on land in Victoria Road, Littlestone, Romney Marsh.

A CGI previously released shows how the homes in Littlestone could look. Picture: Legal & General Modular Homes
A CGI previously released shows how the homes in Littlestone could look. Picture: Legal & General Modular Homes

Other planning applications to confirm final details of the scheme, such as design, are still being decided by Folkestone and Hythe District Council.

Developer Town and Country Housing (TCH) was behind the large project, although the land is now being marketed by Hobbs Parker.

The estate agent said about the plot: “This level greenfield site that extends to approximately 16 acres in total, with a developable area of approximately 8.20 acres, has outline permission for 80 new houses.

“Littlestone is a sought-after location on the Romney Marsh, with it being a short hop to New Romney, which benefits from shops, clubs, pubs, businesses and a good secondary school.

“Head in the other direction and you are soon at the beach.”

Plans to build on the site have been in the works for six years, with the proposals first unveiled in 2018 by Dean Lewis Estates – one of many developers associated with the scheme.

Outline planning permission was awarded in November 2020 and was passed over to TCH and Legal and General Modular Homes.

The latter had hoped to build eco-friendly homes which would be manufactured in Leeds and transported down to Littlestone.

Outline permission has been granted for the 80 homes. Picture: Legal & General Modular Homes
Outline permission has been granted for the 80 homes. Picture: Legal & General Modular Homes

However, a reserved matters bid to sign off on appearance and layout by Legal and General was rejected against the advice of officers in June 2022 with an appeal still pending.

The business confirmed last year it was halting production of any new homes at its loss-making factory with no suggestion of kickstarting business any time soon.

Monson Homes – a subsidiary of TCH – is the latest name to have been associated with the troubled project in papers submitted to FHDC.

It revealed a bid to see a range of two-to-four-bed houses pop up on the site, which would also have assigned wetland space for wildlife.

Hobbs Parker added: “The latest full reserved matters application is expected to be approved shortly.”

But the future of the project is uncertain after hitting the market.

A spokesperson for Town and Country Housing said the land is being sold off so they can focus on other projects.

They said: “We have made the difficult decision to sell the land previously intended for development with Legal and General.

“This is largely due to focussing our current resources on the redevelopment of an estate in Tunbridge Wells, which will see 110 properties replaced with 146 homes for social rent and shared ownership.

“While we are sorry to not be able to lead this project in New Romney, we believe that selling the land will be the most efficient way to ensure the development of much-needed new homes in the area.”

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