Residents’ fears of a rejected planning application rearing its head again have been realised after a developer launched an appeal against the council’s refusal for 115 homes.
The sprawling development on prized farmland proposed by Gladman would run along Tothill Street in Minster, near Ramsgate, just north of Foxborough Lane.
The scheme also included a new public open space, a children’s play area, a community orchard, a woodland belt, and wildflower planting.
Scores objected to the scheme, which Thanet District Council has already thrown out twice, the latest being a revised application in July.
After public consultation, the latest plans attempted to address residents’ concerns.
The new proposal included knocking down a building along Tothill Street and creating a new road for emergency vehicles to access the estate to ease the area’s higher traffic flow.
However, district planners remained unconvinced when ruling on the scheme, stating the application still failed to mitigate the effects of having extra cars on local roads.
Gladman – which was bought out by housebuilding giants Barratt in 2022 – also pledged that 30% of the houses in the scheme would be affordable.
Yet, officers said the developers failed to enter into a legal agreement to secure the discounted properties.
According to documents submitted as part of the appeal, the developer has confirmed a draft Section 106 agreement will be submitted to the Planning Inspectorate.
The agreement will also include a financial contribution towards the Thanet Coast and Sandwich Bay Special Protection Area and provision for the future management of on-site public open space.
The village community is now rallying around once again to fight off the developers.
Minster Action Group, which formed to stave off “overwhelming and unsuitable new developments”, said in a statement: “This is a watershed moment and if this appeal is allowed then this will not stop at 115 houses.
“We know there was a previous suggestion of 300 or more houses put forward to TDC.
“If this site goes ahead it opens up the opportunity for even more. If the recent carnage caused by the development at top of Tothill is anything to go by and our anticipation of further road network chaos when it is finished then we must act now.
“We need a strong message to be sent to the Planning Inspectorate and this is our last chance to shout loudly so please send in your comments.”
The prime concern remains over the fact the development would mean building over high-quality farmland.
But other issues raised by the group include the pressure on the road network, inadequate pedestrian access around the village, reliance on cars getting to the new estate, the site not being in the district’s Local Plan and harm to the landscape.
Speaking after the second refusal earlier this year, long-time resident Andy Local, 62, said the reaction in Minster had been quiet as many feared the scheme would come back to the table.
“Last time it was rejected, we did celebrate,” said Mr Local.
“But now that they’ve come back again, now it’s a very muted celebration because you just know that they’re going to come back again.
“We’re just going to be in this constant battle, and it’s annoying – people keep wanting to turn the village into a town.
“That farmland has been farmed for generations – It’s some of the best farmland in Thanet, why turn it into houses?”
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However, in documents submitted as part of the appeal, Gladman argues the development will not lead to the further loss of prime farmland.
It states: “The appeal site is a discrete parcel of land and a relatively small area of land compared to the wider agricultural land it belongs to, as well as the abundance of best and most versatile agricultural land in the district.
“There can be no dispute that additional homes in the district are required, and it becomes inevitable that agricultural land will be lost to meet housing needs.
“The appellant will demonstrate that the loss of farmland will be outweighed in this case by the social, economic and environmental benefits that would accrue from the appeal proposals.”
It was also added that despite the site’s countryside location, other developments largely enclosed it, and planting a “substantial woodland belt” would minimise the visual impacts on the surrounding landscape.
The Planning Inspectorate is expected to decide on Gladman’s appeal over the 115 homes early next year.
Statements regarding the appeal are due by the end of October and a public inquiry date has been set for January 15.
TDC and Gladman have been approached for comment.
