Residents voice worries over new homes being too close together in Capel-le-Ferne
Capel-le-Ferne: So, they’re going to build 16 new homes on some farmland, right? But folks in the village are pretty worried that it’s just too many houses crammed into a small space.
This plot is about 1.8 acres, which is just a bit bigger than a football pitch. Originally, the plan was for only five homes, but now it’s ballooned to 16. That’s a big jump!
People are concerned that all these new builds on Cauldham Lane will mess with the village vibe. Back in November, the council gave the green light for the outline application, and just last month, they approved the details from Aile Homes.
Anthony Iren from Aile Homes said they’ve been working closely with planning officers to make sure the project fits well in the area. The new homes will have a mix of sizes, from two-bed to five-bed, and each will come with its own garden.
They’re keeping the buildings to two stories and adding air-source heat pumps for energy efficiency. Plus, there will be over 40 parking spaces, which is a plus.
But there were some worries about how close the site is to the Kent Downs National Landscape. It’s a sensitive area, so they’re planning to keep trees and hedgerows to help blend the development in.
As part of the deal, they’re also going to put in a new footpath along Cauldham Lane, working with Kent Highways to make it safer for pedestrians.
Despite all this, 50 objections were filed against the application. One resident, Matthew Dennett, really doesn’t think it’s a good idea. He feels it’ll ruin the village feel and that the road is too narrow for more cars.
He suggested that maybe two larger homes would fit better, but cramming in all these houses just doesn’t sit right with him. Aile Homes hasn’t commented yet, but it seems like this is just the beginning of the conversation.
Previously, the council also approved plans for 90 homes nearby, which has left some residents feeling like the countryside is disappearing under concrete.
