A plot of mature woodland in a “highly desirable residential area” could be hacked down to make way for new housing.

That is the fear of residents following the posting of auction details for the 1.5-acre site off The Leas in Faversham, which is due to be sold on January 11 with a guide price of £255,000.

Future Property Auctions, based in Glasgow, is inviting bids for the land which it describes as having “excellent development potential”, with none of the trees having preservation orders in place.

Its description of the site says: “Super-sized plot of 1.5 acres in prime location in highly-desired residential area in the beautiful town of Faversham. Excellent development potential suitable for multiple uses, subject to planning.”

But the auction of the plot, which is part of a bigger area of woodland, has set alarm bells ringing with residents who say it is "a green lung” of Faversham and a haven for wildlife.

Town councillor Rob Crayford says St Ann’s Ward in the town, which he represents, has more green spaces than any other in Faversham, which residents are anxious to protect.

He hopes the woodland plot can be saved as it has been identified as a “designated local green space” in the town’s proposed Neighbourhood Plan.

Neighbourhood planning was introduced by the government to give communities direct power to produce a shared vision for where they live and shape the development and growth of the local area.

Currently, Faversham’s Neighbourhood Plan is with the planning inspectorate and if it passes inspection, will be put to a referendum in the town to gain final approval.

“A designated local green space is subject to the same strong development restrictions as Green Belt, ruling out new development, except in special circumstances,” said Cllr Crayford.

“But a lot of residents expressed fears about the future of this woodland when the auction details were published on Rightmove on Christmas Eve.

“The guide price of £255,000 has shot up from the £44,000 originally posted, which seems quite a lot of money for a 1.5-acre plot of woodland without planning permission.”

Griselda Cann Mussett of the Faversham Trees Group Facebook page told KentOnline the woodland is of “tremendous significance” and must be protected.

She said: “One of the successful elements of the Faversham Trees project has been that we have so many areas of woodland and mature trees close to each other, allowing wildlife such as birds and insects to move across the area.”

“This area of woodland – a green lung – is of tremendous significance and must remain protected.

“Hundreds of local people have joined in our recent campaigns to enhance and improve the woodland cover in and around our town, and it would make absolutely no sense to see any areas like this felled.

“Planning decisions in recent years have shown that it is far too easy for areas of outstanding biodiversity value to be built on, and this must not happen to these woods.”