Controversial plans for a new housing estate on the outskirts of Canterbury will go ahead after years of legal rows.

Gladman Developments’ bid to construct 85 homes in the village of Blean has been “a huge issue” hanging over residents for six years.

But following a recent Planning Inspectorate ruling the developer has been given the nod to overhaul farmland behind the Royal Oak pub on Blean Common.

“Surprised and appalled” residents have spoken out about the court’s shock decision, which the parish council says has been “fought every step of the way”.

Parish council chairman Phill Hutt, who has lived in Blean for 22 years, said: “There is obviously an existing traffic issue through Blean.

“It’s a pretty fast road from Canterbury to Whitstable and this is going to put a lot more traffic onto that road.

“And the drainage is a big local issue. Even now there are places that flood in Blean when there’s heavy rain and I don’t think this is going to make it any better.”

Cllr Hutt says the council has “fought [the development] every step of the way” and residents are “surprised and appalled at what’s been allowed”.

“Even though the decision has been made we’re not going to leave it at that, we’re going to make sure that it’s as least detrimental as possible to the village,” he said.

Gladman’s original bid for up to 85 homes was thrown out by Canterbury City Council in February 2016.

But the decision would soon go before the Planning Inspectorate, which recommended the proposals should be approved.

The city council then fought the Inspectorate in a High Court battle which would eventually reach the Court of Appeal.

It ruled the Inspectorate had to redo its inquiry, which was carried out at the Guildhall in Canterbury from February to March this year.

In April, the authority announced planning permission was granted, leaving residents stunned.

Speaking after the decision, Blean’s representative on Canterbury City Council, Cllr Alex Ricketts (Lib Dem), says the development has “been a huge issue on the doorsteps in Blean”.

He continued: “People are very worried about it - there’s not this presumption that there should be no development, but it’s probably the size of the development, where it is, and obviously the fact that it’s going onto one of the busiest roads in the district.”

The application granted by the Inspectorate is an outline application for up to 85 homes.

This means that exact details on the number of houses, layout of the estate, and other design issues, will be dealt with through future planning applications.

“Hopefully the developer will work with the local community to try to make things as easy as possible, but they are sort of working against quite a lot of local opposition to the plans as they stand,” Cllr Ricketts continued.

“It’s been a contentious issue for a very long time, and now the Planning Inspector has granted permission we can just hope that the developers will work with the local community.”