Plans for new 2,500 homes backed by council

Plans for a 2,500-home development in Kent have been backed by a council, subject to final approval.

An outline planning application for the scheme, known as Foxchurch, proposed to be built in Bobbing, near Sittingbourne, was supported by eight votes to six on Wednesday after a previous deferral at Swale Borough Council.

Further permission is needed to determine the exact size, layout and design of the development.

The plan would also include commercial space, a primary school, a GP surgery and a sports hub, developer Catesby Estates said.

The proposals, first submitted in 2018 as Bobbing Garden Village, have faced strong opposition from residents and campaign group Communities Against Bobbing Expansion.

The transport impacts of the development, which would be close to the A249, have been a source of contention, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Critics argued that the transport assessment did not "fully consider" the impact on surrounding rural roads.

Councillor Richard Palmer said: "The geographic scope of the highways assessment was too narrow.

"No assessment has been made of the wider road network, particularly rural roads used to avoid A249 congestion."

Others questioned the level of affordable housing and raised concerns about water supply.

However, National Highways and Kent County Council did not object.

A council officer said that there was a "high bar in terms of what is an unacceptable highways impact", adding that planning applications should only be refused when there was "a severe impact".

Supporters warned that rejecting the plan could risk losing an appeal, as the site was included in the council's draft Local Plan.