A 2,500-home development needs to be built - but not where it's planned, says a local councillor.

Conservative councillor for The Meads James Hunt says garden villagers are the way forward but objects to the Foxchurch Garden Village application, citing infrastructure and lack of open space.

He is urging residents to make their views known on plans for the new community which could be built outside Sittingbourne.

The bid to build on 500 acres of land around Demelza children’s hospice in Bobbing has now been submitted to Swale council.

Appin Land and Development, the firm behind the project, has announced it has entered into a joint venture agreement with Warwickshire “land promotion” giants Catesby Estates on the scheme.

Should it go ahead, alongside the new homes there would be a primary school, shops, pub, health centre, offices and a range of sport and leisure facilities.

Cllr Hunt said: “My view on this is that the garden community concept is the right thing to do when having to have development in the borough; it creates a blank canvas to create a development that works, rather than cramming in houses to existing areas where there are problems such as parking or lack of open spaces.

“However, I don’t believe this proposal is in the right place.

“From what I have seen so far there is little in the way of upgrades to the A249 junction at Bobbing and M2 J5 has only been designed to cope with existing and planned development.

“We will have to see how the process goes though, as the council isn’t in a great position to defend speculative applications like this.

“The current Local Plan runs out in July and with delays in progressing the Local Plan Review the council isn’t in a strong position to defend these applications.”

In June 2020 the Foxchurch Garden Village plans were put under scrutiny at a virtual public consultation.

During the online question and answer sessions Appin said it planned to create 180 acres of green space, although it wanted to hear whether people would prefer it to take the form of parks or paths.

The spokesman also revealed construction could begin in 2024, with between 150 and 250 houses being built each year.

Chief executive of Catesby Estates, Myron Osborne, said: “We are pleased to be working with Appin Land and Development who are known for their unique and high quality developments.

“Foxchurch has huge potential for delivering a new strategic village, while also assisting Swale to meet its housing need.”

It was also explained that a total of 40% of the homes built would be classed as “affordable”.

The minimum requirement for large developments in Sittingbourne, under Swale council planning policy, is set at 10%.

Ben Richardson, director at Appin Land and Development said: “Catesby Estates has a first class reputation as a specialist land promoter, and we are pleased to have them working with us on our vision to deliver a high quality development that will serve the needs of Sittingbourne and the wider area, creating a place where people will want to live, work and bring up their children.”

Cllr Hunt added that although this was going to be a long process residents in the area need to speak out.

He finished: “We need to see what happens with this process.

“It is going to be long but we need residents to respond to the application when it is in the council portal.

“It shouldn’t just be about your concerns, you can also comment on the positives, about what is good and what could be better.”

To view and comment on the application, click here.