A plan for 36 homes at Meadow Court is with the Ashford Council, raising worries about overdevelopment in the area.
Six projects want to build over 8,500 homes south of Ashford. Meadow Court is the newest plan. Kent needs to build over 13,000 homes each year, and Ashford must build 950 homes annually due to government targets.
Jarvis Homes wants to build 36 more homes. Their site is off Ashford Road, and the company applied to Ashford Borough Council. The land is 6.5 acres of farmland and is across from the Ashford Town Cricket Club.
Meadow Court plans 25 private homes and also includes 11 affordable homes. All homes would be detached, with two stories plus parking. A new road from Ashford Road is planned too, near Magpie Hall Road.
Councilor Jessamy Blanford worries about too much building, as she thinks Singleton and Kingsnorth have enough homes already. She says fields became housing near Singleton, and they are stuck with Chilmington Green.
The councilor will assess each plan fairly. People need homes, she says, wanting the right homes for new residents. The government wants more houses built which puts pressure on the council.
APX Architecture says the project is fine: their documents say it provides needed housing and homes will be far enough apart. This avoids impacting neighbors, and they say it will not harm local character. A decision is expected by May 1st.
A 550-home estate called ‘Kingsnorth Green’ was approved in 2018. Environmental problems delayed it, and the Stodmarsh Nature Reserve was the issue. The government allowed it in late 2023. Plans exist for 1,000 more homes nearby.
Hallam Land Management wants to build these homes and also plan a primary school. It is south of Pound Lane in Kingsnorth, and their application was made in early 2019. A decision has not yet been made.
Pentland Homes wants to build 625 homes. Their site is off Steeds Lane near Ashford United’s stadium. Hodson Developments plans 650 more homes at Possingham Farm, next to Chilmington Green.
The Hodson plan was first refused, but it was later approved in November. The Chart Road dual carriageway will help traffic, and Hodson must pay for road upgrades. These are improvements between roundabouts.
Hodson may withdraw funding for infrastructure, including a £30 million road improvement. An inspector will review this, and the inquiry starts soon. It is scheduled for February 19th.