A development of 112 homes, a nursery and office space could be built in a field in Sandwich Road, Ash.

The circa £20million scheme by Quinn Estates was showcased at Ash Village Hall on Friday and Saturday, giving residents the chance to provide feedback before a final plan is submitted.

If it goes ahead it will provide 79 open market homes and 33 affordable starter homes pepper potted around the estate.

The mix fulfils the company’s affordable homes obligations, providing the full 30% required and aims to address the district’s need for more homes.

“From what I have heard, it seems a reasonable prospect," Craig Mackinlay, MP

A second phase may follow containing self build plots on the remainder land, stretching towards the cricket field and rugby club.

The scheme is in addition to 200 homes mentioned in the Local Plan which identifies plots of land for future development at Mill Field, South of Sandwich Road and Chequer Lane.

At the exhibition the firm’s managing director Mark Quinn and his team talked residents through the design, tackling concerns about traffic, access, and the impact on the nearby Collar Makers Green estate.

For those who questioned whether the single access point to the site was enough Mr Quinn said the consultation with KCC Highways would reveal it is adequate: “It’s always safer to have only one breaking point rather than two - it means less accidents,” he said.

Sandwich Road is the main entrance to Ash from Sandwich. Some were concerned that the added traffic from the new homes and offices would result in more incidents at the T Junction leading to the A257 bypass. But a personal injury accident review identified just one slight accident in the past five years, not attributed to the present road layout. A study suggests less than 100 extra road journeys would take place in the morning and afternoon while a speed survey revealed cars travel at an average 37.8mph eastbound and 33.4mph westbound.

Bus stops, positioned at the proposed access route and the pump house would remain, “unless KCC says they need to be relocated,” he said.

Collar Makers Green residents, who pay £16 a month for the upkeep of the play park and gardens, said it could encourage children from other areas to the park, risking over use. Mr Quinn said play equipment would be installed at the new estate’s village green subject to local authority consents.

Kevin Medhurst, 43, said: “I’ve lived in Ash since Collar Makers Green was built.

"It's about getting a toe in the door, starting from the edge working his way in - it will totally alter the community"- Paddy O'Halloran

"One thing Ash doesn’t have is a village centre, it all died about 20 years ago when that bypass went in. Putting 100 houses in our area will make it more viable for businesses to open, like a butchers, greengrocers and supermarket. The cycle path they want to put in will fit with the modern way of life and it would bring it all together.

“The biggest concern we had was about Collar Makers Green, and he has promised me he will put in a play park.”

But Paddy O'Halloran, of Sandwich Road, had concerns about the ecological value of the land.

He said: "I've lived here for a long time and the dawn chorus is deafening. Barn owls and kestrels hover over the field. He (Mr Quinn) described the hedgerow as a noise barrier but it's full of life. The cyclepath starts nowhere and goes nowhere."

He added: "I counted 21 things that closed since the bypass was built.

"People don't shop here, they get in their cars and go to Dover, Canterbury or Westwood Cross.

"If you build houses this end of the village it's a mile and a half round trip and people aren't going to use the local shops."

"It's about getting a toe in the door, starting from the edge working his way in. If he does that it will totally alter the community, it will no longer be a village."

The 12 acre site is presently used for agricultural use, with very little ecology present. The design aims to improve the visual impact along the A257. The village green would set the development back from Sandwich Road.

MP for Ash Craig Macinlay said the prospect of new homes would breathe more life into the village, ensuring existing amenities like the shops and the pub didn’t die off.

He said: “It would add a critical mass to the shops and potential for the Chequers Inn to reopen.

“Talking to people around the village they don’t seem to be in opposition to it. You usually expect opposition in a little place like this.

“From what I have heard, it seems a reasonable prospect."

David Adams, Area Education Officer at Kent County Council said: “We are aware that a developer is exploring the possibility of bringing forward a site for housing in Ash, which is outside of the current adopted Local Plan for Dover.

"This would be in addition to the 200 homes planned to be built in the village.

"As a result we are currently looking into where we can provide extra school places in the area. Expanding Cartwright and Kelsey primary school is one option we are considering.”

We approached St Faith’s at Ash prep school for a response but none was offered.

Last weekend’s exhibition was designed to gauge public opinion and encourage feedback.

Issues will be taken into consideration before a final application is submitted in eight to 10 weeks time. Dover District Council’s decision is expected at the end of the year and if it is successful, building works will start this time in 2017.

Feedback is welcome throughout. Visit: quinn-estates.com