Detailed plans for executive homes on an abandoned golf course near Ashford have been approved.

The scheme will see 10 new houses built on the site of the former Great Chart Golf Club off Bears Lane, which formed part of the Great Chart Golf and Leisure complex.

Since outline permission was granted in June 2019, the overgrown complex fell under the national media spotlight after the body of Sarah Everard was found in Hoads Wood behind the site in March.

The latest ‘reserved matters’ application - submitted by developer Clarus Homes - proposes 10 homes spread across the 23-acre course, which featured nine holes.

The scheme was approved by Ashford Borough Council last month, with the developers saying they will take care to preserve the best-quality existing trees on the site.

A planning statement attached to the approved plans reads: “The outline planning permission was for a bespoke scheme that was conceived and developed in light of new exclusive homes policies and a clear desire from Ashford Borough Council to respond to a demand for a small number of large, exclusive properties.

“By their very nature, such properties are necessarily located in larger grounds set amongst less developed surroundings such as the countryside.”

Taking care to preserve the best quality existing trees, the planning statement adds the development would “extend the existing belt of vegetation along the railway to create a link between areas of ancient woodland to the east and west of the site”.

In March, the Metropolitan Police said there was “no suggestion of any criminal activity linked to the golf course/complex” as part of the investigation into the murder of Ms Everard.

Meanwhile, to the west of Great Chart, a second developer has submitted plans to Ashford Borough Council for a mixed-use development of 36 homes and 36 commercial units on previously developed land off Goldwell Lane.

Great Chart with Singleton Parish Council has objected to the plans.

“There should be no development on the Great Chart side of the A28,” the council’s statement says.

“Development on this site would be considered inappropriate given the potential effect on the character and setting of Great Chart village and the difficulty of designing an integrated neighbourhood divided by the A28.”