Controversial plans for 170 new homes on the edge of a village have been withdrawn, sparking joy among residents.

A proposal was put forward by LRM Planning Ltd, on behalf of Hallam Land Management, for a new estate at Cotton Hill, Hamstreet, in February.

The developer submitted a proposal to Ashford Borough Council (ABC) to build on a 35-acre plot in a bid to help solve the area's "housing shortfall".

However, the "diabolical" plans drew criticism almost immediately with more than 600 people objecting to Hallam's application - which was for a site not featured in ABC's Local Plan up to 2030.

Concerns were raised about infrastructure, traffic, overpopulation and flooding on Hamstreet, with some residents as far away as Romney Marsh even citing fears about its impact.

Kent Wildlife Trust (KWT) also noted the proposal was in an area known to support breeding nightingale and other ‘at-risk’ species.

But six months after Hallam's proposal was submitted, the company has now withdrawn the plans just days before a decision was expected by ABC's planning committee.

Its decision to axe the application, which planning officers had recommended for refusal ahead of the meeting, has been met with delight by the Hamstreet and Ruckinge Conservation group - one of its biggest opponents.

"The application to build 170 houses on the Saxon shoreline at Cotton Hill has been withdrawn,” it said.

"This is due to the huge community response to object to this unsustainable development in such an unsuitable location.

"The applicant may try to return with another application. If so, we will be ready to go again and will need the community to come together again as they have done over the past few months in order to fight it.

"Our communities stick together."

Hallam chose not to provide an explanation as to why it pulled the development when asked by KentOnline.

The developer previously said the proposal would have had a positive impact on Hamstreet.

In documents submitted to ABC, it explained: “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.

“There is an identified shortfall in housing across the borough; as demonstrated, ABC is unable to demonstrate a five-year housing land supply."

But Kingsnorth resident Claire Le Rossignoi had objected to the plans, saying: "This development would be detrimental to the Saxon shoreline, protected species and other wildlife.

"The roads are not suitable for increased traffic and it would also put pressure on local amenities which are already at capacity."

Such objections were echoed by Aldington and Bonnington Parish Council.

The local authority noted the estate's "magnitude" would have a negative impact "on the existing infrastructure and services of all neighbouring parishes that share the services currently provided.

It added: "Not only are the proposals an overdevelopment of the site, it also removes the margin between the settlements which are rapidly becoming urbanised."

Both Orlestone and Ruckinge Parish Council also refused to support the "unsustainable" application due to flooding fears and the estate not being put forward on a brownfield site.

Find out about planning applications that affect you by visiting the Public Notice Portal.

Had the estate been given the nod, the 170 homes would have ranged from one-bed to five-bed properties.

Of these, 40% would have been classed as affordable.

The development would also have increased the population of Hamstreet by about a quarter from its current 1,700 to more than 2,100 people.