A developer hoping to roll out a new village medical centre has launched a scathing attack on a GP who has backed alternative proposals.

Max Tillings has hit out at a Sellindge Surgery consultant who publicly urged Folkestone and Hythe District Council (FHDC) to support Quinn Homes’ plans for a new practice.

Mr Tillings wishes to supply land for a surgery and build 32 homes off Main Road in the village, while Quinn has unveiled proposals to construct a medical building alongside 105 houses at Elmtree Farm.

But earlier this month, Sellindge Surgery partner Dr George Vattakuzhiyil left Mr Tillings reeling by calling on planning chiefs to approve Quinn’s plans over “more speculative village development”.

Taking umbrage with the doctor’s words, Mr Tillings, who has owned his land on a former piggery site for 20 years, told KentOnline: “This doesn’t feel right to me.

“How dare this person have the sheer audacity to make reference, and even criticise, our proposals without so much as to actually reach out to us.

“To be called ‘speculative’ is just unfair. We’ve done everything we can by the book and throughout the whole process it feels like the relevant authorities have not helped at all.

“My proposal is based upon the actual feedback I received from the local people who both live in Sellindge and whose families are using the current Sellindge doctor surgery - therefore it is not speculative.”

Mr Tillings, 52, says he earmarked land for the new practice after surveying some 300 villagers, with some raising concerns about primary health provision.

“We’re not a large-scale developer, we’re just people who live here and want to give something back to the community – to be called ‘speculative’ is unfair and unfounded,” he says.

“We’re prepared to put a piece of land aside for a new GP surgery or medical hub, call it what you will, because people are very frustrated.

“Here we are proposing to do something on our own land.”

The district council rejected Mr Tillings’ initial medical centre proposals last year, prompting him to re-submit the application, which is currently under review.

In 2020, he also launched proposals to build six homes on land next door to the former piggery, but it is yet to be approved.

Mr Tillings told KentOnline his plans for the site adjacent to the Duke’s Head pub are “low-key” and will “not interfere with anyone”.

Situated between Ashford and Folkestone, Sellindge has recently attracted the attention of numerous property developers and seen its population swell.

Gladman Developments has lodged plans for 105 homes on the other side of the A20, next to the Potten Farm Shop.

Housebuilder Taylor Wimpey has already constructed 250 homes opposite the village's Co-op store.

Meanwhile, the 10,000-home Otterpool Park 'garden town' is set for land on and around the nearby former Folkestone Racecourse.

Quinn Homes says its development, which would be off Main Road at the opposite end of the village, will supply a “significantly larger” GP practice than the current “outdated and constrained one”.

The firm believes it will help increase the range of primary care services in the village and wider area, having worked closely with the current practice.

The outline planning application includes proposals for 105 homes – including affordable and self-build housing – alongside the replacement doctors’ surgery, a dental surgery, shop and land for future school expansion.

“It is always important to us that any onsite facilities that we provide are based on local need, add value to the local community, and are incorporated following detailed dialogue with the relevant parties,” a Quinn spokesman said.

“In this instance, we held detailed conversations with the local GP practice in Sellindge and NHS Kent and Medway Integrated Care Board (ICB) over a number of years.

“In the course of discussions with the practice, it was clear that they had outgrown their current building and consequently were keen to identify a way to secure a new facility.

“We have been working closely with Dr Vattakuzhiyil and his team, to make sure that our proposals not only facilitate their requirement but more importantly reflect their identified needs, allowing them to expand both the quantum and range of services both for their existing patients and also the growing needs of the wider community.”

FHDC planning chiefs will soon hold crunch meetings to decide which developers’ scheme, if any, will go ahead.

Publicly coming out in support of Quinn’s plans, Dr Vattakuzhiyil’s said in a press release: “We are approaching the end of our lease on our current premises and our current building is already too small for our current needs and there is no scope for expansion in the current premises.

“It is vital that we can secure modern, energy efficient, fit-for-purpose accommodation to meet the growing needs of the community.

“All new healthcare facilities or surgeries must be GP-led and cannot be speculative in nature.

“For these proposals, we have worked closely with the NHS Kent and Medway ICB, for which a Project Initiation Document has been submitted as part of the formal business case.

“We want to make clear that this proposal [for a new surgery] is led by the practice and we have not endorsed nor proposed any other schemes in the village.

“As NHS hospitals are coming under increased pressure, there will be a requirement for more services to be community-based to better serve our growing communities.

“By creating a new GP practice that can offer those services, it will help attract and retain GPs.”

But NHS Kent and Medway ICB, which sets the strategy for primary care provision to help meet the population’s needs, says Quinn’s proposed development has yet to be identified or considered in line with its own strategy.

Without the ICB’s approval, the practice can still be built and provide healthcare. However, it would miss out on significant funding for recurring premises costs, a spokesman said.