Planners from Kent County Council have spent more than £12,000 producing plans for 25 homes on the site of the North School farm in Ashford.

Details released under the Freedom of Information Act show that almost £2,000 was spent on meetings and advice on where to put the houses.

As of January, KCC had spent £12,618 in total – including £1,800 in pre-application meetings, £4,230 on putting together the application and £4,115 on consultants. The application was submitted in December last year.

Although a deal with a developer has yet to be made, KCC is hoping that with planning permission agreed a small parcel of land on the school site can be sold off.

It will mean the loss of land used by pupils for the school farm.

The news has outraged campaigners who say the money could have been better spent on helping relocate the farm, or to help feed the animals.

The Kentish Express campaign Fight for the Farm supporter Alli Cousins accused KCC of “trying to get rich” by squeezing the homes on the small area of grass and woodland.

The school’s farm first opened in 1936 and is the oldest school farm in the county. It is home to, among others, 30 chickens, 20 sheep, 10 cattle, eight pigs and a goat.

A KCC spokesman said: “There is no intention to close the farm, nor has there been for at least two years.

"However, it has long been planned that the farm site will move and that houses will be built on a part of the site.

“The land has been declared surplus to the school’s requirements and the government has agreed to its release for development purposes.

“Essella Road already serves a large number of houses in this established residential area.

“The proposed number of 25 homes meets central government guidelines.

“Planning applications cost money and this fee is set by the borough council.

“However, all the work required on this application, such as drawing up designs, is part and parcel of securing the best possible sale.”

Sign the Kentish Express Fight for the Farm petition here.