New plans have been submitted to build homes on a former plant nursery close to a secondary school.

But Sandwich Town Council still opposes Westerhill Homes’ scheme for 56 homes at the former Kumor Nursery site in Dover Road.

It was refused by Dover District Council in November 2017 and then at appeal by inspector Cullum Parker on visual grounds.

Last December Cllr Paul Carter described the news as ‘the best Christmas present’.

Now, almost a year on, the developers have amended their proposal with a reduction of 11 homes.

They’ve expanded the proposed boundary to about 11 metres, compared to 2-3 metres before, and added a comprehensive planting plan of new trees and shrubs, including a tree belt on the north-west edge of the site, to provide visual screening.

The amended scheme also includes new single storey units reduce the visual effect, particularly in views from the north.

Speaking at this month’s town council meeting, resident Ian Black pleaded that the council ‘vigorously oppose’ the scheme, labelling it a ‘rehash’.

His concerns included traffic safety, fearing it will lead to hundreds of cars in the area and cause excess parking in Dover Road.

He also highlighted that the site is opposite to the entrance of Sandwich Technology College, which has more than 1,400 pupils.

He said: “We look to the council to use their influence to quash these proposals. We urge you to object strongly and effectively. You owe it to the citizens of Sandwich.”

Cllr Paul Carter who has worked with residents in their campaign led the proposal to reject it and said: “It’s the wrong application, wrong site, wrong road!

“We fought very hard to defeat the original application. We must reject this and make sure it doesn’t come back again.”

Cllr John Bragg said: “We have turned this down every time we have seen it. We’ve always been against it. I hope that they take it on board and withdraw the application.”

Cllr Anne Fox added: “We should be very clear that we do not wish this to go ahead.”

The application has received 93 letters of objection to Dover District Council and just one in support.

Westerhill Homes writes in its landscape statement: “The design of the revised scheme layout is a direct response to the aim of improving the previously submitted scheme for the site and to mitigate further, any potential landscape and visual effects.

“The revised scheme represents a reduction of proposed residential units from the previous scheme from 67 to 56.

“Such a reduction in units has reduced the amount of proposed built form and massing on the site and has allowed for the creation of a greater area for amenity space, gardens and landscape.

“The inclusion of more amenity space and greater garden size in key locations is intended to break up the massing of the proposed built form, enable a greater number of larger scale trees to be planted and increase permeability across the site.”

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