Controversial plans to build eight flats on a patch of grass in a village have been given the green light by councillors – despite receiving hundreds of objections.

Gravesham council applied for permission to construct the homes on the one-acre plot, which is classed as amenity space in the green belt, in Istead Rise, near Gravesend, in February.

It proposed to create a mix of one- and two-bedroom rented affordable apartments in an L-shaped block between Bramley Close and Worcester Close, near the car park for Downs Way Medical Practice.

The proposal received more than 500 objections during the consultation period but was recommended for delegation to officers for approval subject to conditions and the completion of a planning agreement.

It was originally set to be discussed at a planning committee in June but the item was withdrawn.

It was instead decided upon at a meeting on Wednesday, July 26, where the head of planning explained the application had been removed as it was not exempt from “Right to Buy” which meant it departed from the local plan which requires affordable housing in the rural area to be so “in perpetuity”.

Therefore the application had to be advertised as such and a notice period was given until last Friday (August 4) meaning no decision could officially be made.

Despite this, councillors still voted on the application at last month’s meeting and agreed the decision be delegated to officers for approval after the deadline passed.

It is a move that has left residents feeling “disappointed” and unheard after around a quarter of the village objected to the plans.

Ward councillor for Istead Rise, Cobham and Luddesdown Dakota Dibben (Con) told KentOnline: “I do not think many residents are happy about it getting approved. The response after the meeting finished, you could see the anger from the residents.

“They were clearly disappointed. I think they do not feel listened to.”

Speaking during the meeting, Cllr Dibben told members that the application was “wrong for many reasons” including “nonsense” claims the connection and public transport to and from the village is good and there are good facilities.

He said: “More than 500 residents put in objections to this application.

“These are not people who do not want to see social housing being built but they are residents who are concerned about the loss of a valuable piece of amenity space, a piece of land which is in the designated green belt and a piece of land which has on it a much-used bridleway.

“These green spaces were built into the community to create the local scene, a scene which will be lost to buildings which are totally out of character with the rest of Istead Rise.”

Cllr Dibben queried the conduct of the applicant, the council in this case, and claimed their desire to get the application through “no matter what local residents think or whether the application is right for the area” raised questions.

He added: “They are prepared to breach the green belt and interfere with a protected bridleway in order to get this through.

“Councillors, I must stress to you, by approving this application the implications will go far beyond Istead Rise. If you vote for this application tonight, you are signing away the protection of the green belt in Gravesham.

“Developers will see the council's willingness to breach the green belt and will have good grounds to support their applications.”

In response, the speaker said a survey showed there was a need for more housing in the borough and the plans had been designed to meet this.

In the planning report, officers said it is in a sustainable location, adding: “In this case, the loss of the informal parcel of amenity land as part of this development is considered acceptable and is outweighed by the established housing need within the borough.

“The proposal is a sustainable form of development that accords with national and local policy planning policy and will provide a 100% affordable rent scheme within the rural area of Gravesend.”

The application site is within the green belt but the planning officers told members that the plans were recognised as an exemption as they fell under limited infilling in villages.

The final decision is set to be published in the next few weeks.