Kentish Express Ashford & District
Joy for campaign group as plan for 26 homes rejected
Planning Inspectorate’s decision sparks relief
Villages battling to stop 26 homes being built have declared victory in their war with a developer.
The Planning Inspectorate has thrown out Hamlin Estates’ proposal to build on fields behind the Grade I-listed St Mary the Virgin church in High Halden.
In a decision issued on September 5, the inspector ruled the development, which was outside the village confines, would “urbanise” the appearance of the church and “be prominent in views from the surrounding countryside due to the elevated position of the site”.
It was considered the homes would “appear as a separate section of development that would not relate well to the rest of the village” with gardens abutting fields in the protected character area.
The inspector also took into consideration that Ashford Borough Council (ABC) had been able to demonstrate an adequate five-year housing land supply.
The determination shown by campaigners in High Halden to save their Grade I-listed church from being surrounded by a modern estate saw a sea of 150 placards dotted along the A28 and an online petition and leaflet drops to every home in the village.
Pauline Rose, a member of the High Halden Church Field Action Group, said: “It’s been a very upsetting time for people whose loved ones are buried in the churchyard but with the inspector’s decision all the worry has been lifted.
“The homes would have been too imposing on the church and spoilt its peaceful aspect and views which allow you to see the windmills at Camber from the churchyard.
“The inspector agreed that the homes would have urbanised the setting of the church, they were outside the village confines and not in the Local Plan.”
Mrs Rose, 48, said of the twoyear wrangle with Hamlin: “The worry of the homes being built and that the peace and tranquillity of the church would be lost has been hanging over all our heads.
“It’s been a long fight to stop it but it’s been worth it.”
The campaign had united villagers of all ages and also celebrating was Nathan Rivers.
The 21-year-old added: “[I’m] absolutely chuffed that the planning didn’t go through, it would have ruined a beautiful piece of countryside.”
Nicholas Parkin of Hamlin Estates had taken the case to the planning inspector over ABC’s non determination of the outline application.