A village will grow by 135 homes if a newly submitted application is approved.

The houses will be built on land to the rear of The Swan Hotel in Charing near Ashford, and a new children's play area is also included in the scheme.

Having been granted outline consent on April 25 last year, this new submission seeks to finalise the development's design.

The scheme - headed up by Countryside Properties and Orbit Homes - will comprise 40 two-bed houses, 60 three-bedroom dwellings and 35 four-bed houses.

Of these, 54 homes - or 40% - will comply with the requirements of being affordable housing.

An attached transport statement suggests an "above adequate" amount of parking is to be provided for the 135 homes - 305 spaces, of which 69 are unallocated for residents.

Each home with a driveway or car port will have an electric vehicle charging point installed as standard.

All access to the 19-acre site will be from the A20 Maidstone Road.

Prior to any vegetation clearance, a special licence will be required due to a known on-site presence of dormice.

Concerns have been raised by villagers, mainly regarding the lack of healthcare provision in Charing.

Alison Hague, of Hook Lane, said: "135 new properties is way too many for the village.

"There would be serious strain on the facilities including the GP surgery which is certainly struggling especially at present where there are queues of one-and-a-half hours.

"We love the village as it is"

"We are new to Charing and love the village as it is - please do not allow this to be spoilt on this scale.

"Increased cars on our roads, pollution and spoiling our green open spaces is all not good."

Fears are also being expressed over a reduction in privacy and the houses not being in keeping with the rural aesthetic.

But in a planning statement attached to the application, the developers say the scheme offers an "attractive landscaped setting".

They said: "The overall development incorporates the existing landscape features across the site, seeks to retain and enhance existing vegetation on site and provide additional informal public open space provision than envisioned at the outline stage.

"It is considered that the reserved matters proposals offer an appropriate solution to the site which follows the broad principles established through the outline consent, and creates a development which assimilates well within its site and surroundings."

A decision is set to be reached by July 24, however the coronavirus pandemic could delay that judgement being made.

For more information, or to leave a comment, search 20/00508/AS on the Ashford Borough Council planning portal.

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