Furious residents are to march in protest against controversial building plans.

Antler Homes’ application to build four homes on the site of a bungalow in Busbridge Road, Loose, has enraged villagers.

They say the development will obliterate views of the countryside, encroach on a treasured conservation area and turn a narrow lane into an accident spot.

The plans were first mooted in September, but Maidstone council refused permission in November.

An appeal has now been lodged and a public inquiry will be held on June 17.

Loose councillor Ben Sherreard (Con) will lead marching residents when they protest at the site tomorrow.

He said much of their anger had been directed at the mystery landowner who does not live in the village, adding: “He’s never lived there in the last six years and the property has fallen into disrepair. It looks horrible.”

Cllr Sherreard said the protest was the village’s way of making its point to the landowner.

He said: “It’s just to send a message that we’re not happy that he’s using this beautiful village to make a quick profit and to show inspectorate the level of outrage. Those new buildings will run down to the conservation area. They will cut out some of the most idyllic views. It’s a well-known walking route through there.

“The houses themselves would look right in the right area; they just don’t look right in Loose.

“It’s the scale of it. It’s too big for the area and is completely out of place.

“Busbridge Road is incredibly narrow. It’s quite a dangerous road and the extra traffic will be a problem.”

A spokesman for Antler Homes said: “It’s a brownfield site and a derelict site. You’ve got to put it into some perspective. The fact is the government has said we’ve got to build 250,000 homes across the country. This is not a greenfield site.”

The Kent Messenger was unable to contact the landowner.