Almost 1,200 objections have been lodged against plans for 140 homes amid fears the scheme will “overdevelop” a village.

Developer Hallam Land Management wants to build on a 35-acre plot on the edge of Hamstreet near Ashford.

The site at Cotton Hill, off Hamstreet Road, could host 77 private houses, 56 social homes and seven self-build properties.

But scores of people have now objected to the plan for the site, which does not feature in Ashford Borough Council’s (ABC) Local Plan to 2030.

Katie Lam, Conservative MP for Weald of Kent, is one of those to oppose the scheme.

The 33-year-old is the first representative of the new constituency having won the seat in July's general election.

She claims the project is "unsuitable" for a village which currently has a population of 1,700.

She said: "The estate is likely to attract predominantly families, however the nearest primary school is between one to 1.6km away, making it quite likely that parents would need to drive young children to school, creating more traffic and car journeys during peak times.

"A site of this magnitude would also have significant impact on already strained infrastructure and services and constitute an overdevelopment of the area which cannot be mitigated by developer contributions.”

Currently grassland used for growing turf, a development of 170 homes was previously proposed at the same site by Hallam Land Management in February.

However, the plans drew criticism almost immediately when concerns were raised about infrastructure, traffic, overpopulation and flooding throughout Hamstreet.

The application was subsequently withdrawn just days before a decision was expected by ABC’s planning committee in August.

The move came after planning officers had recommended it for refusal ahead of the meeting.

But, just two months later, the Sheffield-based company submitted a new proposal for 140 properties.

The developer says 30 fewer homes will reduce concerns about the overall scale of the estate and its impact on the landscape surrounding the Royal Military Canal.

It has submitted a habitat assessment document which bosses say now demonstrates no significant impact on Dungeness, Romney Marsh and Rye Bay.

Information submitted by the company says: "The site is not identified in the development plan for housing, nor is it situated within the defined settlement boundary of Hamstreet.

"[But] there is an identified shortfall in housing across Ashford.

"Our vision is to create a high-quality, landscape-led development of new homes and community amenity space that seamlessly integrates with the village of Hamstreet.

"The development has been guided by the aspiration to deliver a series of connected and complementary public recreational open spaces in Hamstreet, including the creation of Cotton Hill Park - a new landscaped asset for the village covering over six acres in area."

Yet the 1,166 angry residents who have objected to the estate insist the rehashed plans have done little to appease them, noting the scheme will only worsen their already "infiltrated" village.

The Hamstreet and Ruckinge Conservation Group has led the campaign against the proposal, in partnership with Orlestone and Ruckinge parish councils.

In his objection comment, Willow Drive resident Thomas Smyth said: "The local GP is already not able to offer appointments in a suitable timeframe since the building of Nightingale View and The Pippins in recent times.

"Such developments also have huge impacts on the native wildlife which need protection."

Should it be approved, the homes will range from having one bedroom and five bedrooms, although most will have two or three.

In total, 40% of the homes will also be classed as ‘affordable’.

But Kent County Council (KCC) believes the development will have an "additional impact" on services across the area.

The authority says this will therefore need to be mitigated by Hallam through new infrastructure or financial contributions.

KCC says more than £69,000 will need to be paid by the developer to cover the expected increased pressure on social care, waste disposal and recycling and KCC community services.

A further £6,000 per house is also the estimated contributions likely to be needed for the provision of additional secondary education and SEND [special educational needs and disability] places within the borough.

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A decision on the application is expected by January 13 where it is expected to go to ABC's planning committee.

KentOnline approached Hallam Land Management for comment.