Controversial plans for 170 homes next to two new-build estates could overwhelm a nearby doctors’ surgery, NHS chiefs fear.

Bosses want to develop Ashford’s former Brett Aggregates mineral depot - a 15-acre site that sits between the ‘Large Burton’ project and first phase of Conningbrook Lake housing estate.

If approved, the scheme would make up phase two of the Conningbrook Lakes development, where contractors have already built 300 homes next to Julie Rose Stadium.

But NHS Kent and Medway, which is responsible for planning healthcare services in the county, fears nearby Wye Surgery will be unable to cope as the development will have a “direct impact” on the delivery of care.

As a result, it is asking developer Brett Aggregates to mitigate the extra pressure through a financial contribution of almost £153,000.

Commenting on an outline application submitted to Ashford Borough Council (ABC), Zoe Holmes, senior programme manager from NHS Kent and Medway, said: “This proposal will generate approximately 425 new patient registrations in general practice.

“The proposed development falls within the current practice boundaries of Wye Surgery.

“The proposal will also increase demand on other healthcare services provided to the local population.

“There is currently limited capacity within existing healthcare premises to accommodate growth in this area.

“The need from this development, along with other new developments, will therefore need to be met through the creation of additional capacity in general practice and other healthcare premises.”

The money would go towards refurbishing and expanding existing facilities or creating new ones.

The exact figure of £152,928 was based on a contribution of £360 per person expected to move into the site, which sits next to the Ashford to Canterbury railway line off Willesborough Road.

Plans for phase two were originally lodged in 2022 but last month amended documents responding to previous feedback were submitted.

While the number of homes remains unchanged, extra measures to protect badger setts have been included.

The homes will be made up of 43 flats with blocks up to 3.5 storeys high, and 127 houses with a mix of two to five-bedrooms.

The apartments have been redesigned to allow for smaller, more convenient parking courts, and verges on either side of the spine road have been made wider.

Cul-de-sacs have been removed and a large central green space has now been connected by a green corridor to phase one.

The entrance to the site – which is in ABC’s Local Plan – has been slightly reconfigured to reduce the visual impact of parking and hard surfacing.

But despite the amendments, Kent Highways says it still has concerns over the lack of parking provisions for homes with more than four bedrooms.

In a letter, the director of highways and transportation said: “This additional information does not address my previous concerns with the application dated April 6, 2023 and therefore these remain valid and need to be addressed in full before I am able to give a positive recommendation on the planning application.

“It should be noted that the indicative layout is unlikely to be acceptable to KCC Highways as four-plus bedroom dwellings do not have the required three car parking spaces.

“At least two of these spaces need to be independently accessible in order to ensure the spaces are usable.

“Spaces behind a car port structure will not be acceptable as they are likely to be enclosed and therefore not used for car parking as has been the case at Conningbrook Lakes.”

Natural England has also said the development “could have potential significant effects” on the Stodmarsh Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).

As a result, it requires “further information to determine the significance of the impacts” and how they could be mitigated.

Across the railway line, housebuilder Redrow is working on the first phase of a 725-home ‘Large Burton’ development, officially known as ‘Crown Hill View’.

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Phase one includes 288 homes alongside a new venue for Ashford Town Bowls Club, a footbridge over the railway line, 7.4 acres of new wetlands, a community centre, and a two-form entry primary school, to be called Conningbrook CofE Primary.

Detailed plans are yet to be submitted for the second phase, which will include 437 homes.

Brett Aggregates has been approached for further comment.