Around 100 villagers took part in a protest walk to re-voice their objections to plans for a 2,500-home garden village.

Sevenoaks Council is considering allocating the Pedham Place Golf Course near Swanley for major redevelopment as it seeks to find sites for 10,000 new homes over the next 15 years as part of it new draft Local Plan.

The site is close to Junction 3 of the M25, but the neighbouring, largely rural, communities of Farningham, Eynsford, Horton Kirby, South Darenth and Crockenhill fear they will be swamped by such a huge development, and worry about the impact on local roads.

In addition, the site falls within the green belt - although so does some 93% of the district, leaving the council little room for manoeuvre.

A protest march was held on Saturday (June 29) by the umbrella organisation, Protect Our Green Belt Together.

Villagers gathered at The Lion Hotel in Farningham before walking along the A20 to Pedham Place, where they crossed the golf course using public rights of way, returning via Crockenhill Lane and Sparepenny Fields.

The gentle protest - in glorious sunshine - included a picnic stop at the Arther Mee memorial bench along the route.

Su Hewitt, one of the organisers, said: “Drivers sounded their horns in support as we walked uphill on the A20 towards Pedham Place.

“Golfers on the course at the time said how popular the golf course is (it was very busy) and how they don't see why a thriving golf course should be considered for development.

“Skylarks were spotted nesting near the centre of the site - skylarks are on the protected Red List.

“Since this will stop developers building for three months of the year, it will add to the expense, which is already potentially considerable as an oil pipe runs beneath the site - a fact largely overlooked in the council’s reports.”

Mrs Hewitt said: “It was a fabulous turnout bearing in mind there were many clashing local events that day.”

The walk was the latest of several demonstrations, one of which included a tractor drive around the area by the community’s farmers.

Sevenoaks council is in the process of revising its draft plan in the light of comments received since it was first published in December last year.

A spokesman said: “At this time, no decisions have been made on the sites that will be included in the next version of the plan.

“A report on the programme for the Local Plan will be taken to our Development and Conservation Advisory Committee on July 11.

“Consultation on the final draft of the Local Plan (known as Regulation 19) will take place towards the end of the year.”

The Pedham Place development is being promoted jointly by builders Gladman Developments and the Ramac group.

The companies have ambitions to create a “20-minute community”, with everything needed by the residents of the new village - from shops to schools to doctors’ surgeries - within a 20-minute walk of their homes.

The proposals also included plans for a 28,000 seater sports stadium for the Wasps Rugby Football Club.

The former top flight side – who went into administration in 2022 and were relegated from the division as a result – are said to be looking at relocating to the county from the Midlands.

But it’s understood the club has now averted its gaze from the golf site.