A planning war has erupted in a remote village after a developer said it did not need permission to build 62 homes – because it had installed a kerb three years ago, meaning work had already started.
But furious locals in the remote village of Tovil near Maidstone, claim they are ready to fight the plans ‘tooth and nail’ as the development will destroy their views.
Aile Homes, who bought the plot off developer Chailey Homes, has submitted an application to Maidstone council claiming a ‘material start’ has been made on the development since permission was granted in 2019.
At the centre of the dispute is Perry Mason, 64, who lives in a property which the developers want to buy to knock down to allow easier access to the empty land.
The transport manager says he has been given ‘an offer I cannot refuse’ and admits locals living just yards away from him are furious – with some verbally abusing him in the street over the situation.
Mr Mason, who has lived in his home for 24 years, says whatever happened it was a ‘win-win’ situation for him.
He told : ‘From a selfish point of view, I hope it is approved. The developers want to buy our house.
‘They have given us an offer we cannot refuse. It’s great. The value has gone up and up and up throughout this whole process.
‘I am in a win-win. If it goes ahead, I will sell the property to them and move.
‘If not, then I will buy the land anyway where they want to build the homes, and then my home increases in value.
‘It does not really matter to me what happens, I am happy. My name around here is mud. I am not popular.’
It is more than 11 years since Chailey Homes first submitted an outline application to Maidstone council, seeking permission to build 62 homes on empty land.
The site is actually on one side of the single-width track which runs from Redstart Avenue, past the Richmond Way green space, past the entrance to the bungalow known as The Lodge, and heads towards Hayle Place.
The developer went on to get approval for a detailed plan in December 2019 but it was never finished.
It was a condition of the original planning permission that work on the development must start within two years – which would have been before December 20, 2021.
Four days before that deadline, Chailey Homes had contractors lay kerbing at the entrance, extending for 35 metres. The road surface was not addressed and no further work was carried out.
It is believed that part of the problem was a dispute over the ownership of the land that gave access to the site.
But Mr Mason has little sympathy for those involved in the altercation: ‘I do not care in the slightest. I have been here 28 years and have seen it all. The people moaning should have looked into the situation.
‘If you buy a house with a great big field behind it, you should expect the chance of homes being built.
‘This has been ongoing for years. It has dragged on and on. They should have done their homework. There’s very little point moaning about it now.’
Chailey Homes went on to sell the plot to a new developer, Aile Homes.
The company has submitted an application to Maidstone council for a certificate of lawfulness, claiming a ‘material start’ has been made on the development since permission was given.
If granted, the firm will avoid having to go through the whole planning process again.
The original application received 110 individual letters of objections, plus objections from the three ward councillors and both Loose and Tovil parish councils.
Mr Mason said he believed the Labour government’s policy of wanting to build on green belt land would see it go through.
He added: ‘Angela Rayner is very keen on this sort of thing. I think it will go through.’
Mr Mason said locals had given him funny looks and verbally abused him in the street as a result of his decision to accept the offer.
He added: ‘They would all do exactly the same as me. I have got to look after number one.’
He did not wish to say how much he had been offered, but said it was a lot more than the £40,000 which he had recently spent on the property.
But locals do not share his passion.
One said: ‘We intend to fight this tooth and nail. It’s arrogant. It’s ridiculous. To think you can put a kerb in and all is OK is mental.
‘The noise would be terrible. We would move if it goes ahead. It cannot be justified. The road here is already a dumping ground for cars.’
Lynne Dawson, who lives nearby, said she strongly opposed the plans.
The accountant said: ‘Nobody knows what is happening. I oppose it in the strongest terms.’
Social worker Iffy Okoye, 45, said access to the site would create ‘traffic nightmares’.
She said: ‘It would be very bad. Cars cannot move at the best of times. Access would be a massive problem.
‘People park right outside my house. All those extra homes would make it worse and the building traffic would be a nightmare. The bin men struggle on a Tuesday as it is.’
Driving instructor Gavin Williams, 36, said he believed it would ruin the area locally.
He said: ‘Surely there’s better places? It will back right on to where I live. I will overlook it. It is also right next to a nature reserve, it’s terrible.’
There is no suggestion any of the residents named have been involved in abusing Mr Mason.
approached Aile Homes for comment.