A planning inquiry into whether a developer should be allowed to build 500 homes across two fields in Maidstone is to hear its last evidence today.

The inquiry into whether Croudace can build houses across the fields off Hermitage Lane in Allington, near Maidstone, which has been hearing evidence for a week at the Mercure Maidstone Great Danes Hotel in Hollingbourne, today heard from Matthew Chard, giving evidence for the appellants Croudace.

Mr Chard, a landscape specialist with Barton Wilmore, said the borough's objection to the proposal was "unjustified."

The borough had accepted the northern field as a suitable application for houses, but said development in the southern field would adversely affect the setting of the ancient woodland.

But, he said, there was no difference in the landscape affects between the two fields.

He said: "It is clear nonsense."

Mr Chard said that the landscape's character was more than just the visual aspect - there was also a sensory experience, he said.

"It is what you smell and what you hear too," he told the inquiry. The inspector would hear the traffic for himself when he visited the site, he said, and realise the urban aspect.

With regard to the road that was to be driven through the wood, that was only 9m wide and would result in the loss of just 2.8% of the ancient wood, he continued.

Opponents have said it would cut a notch in the tree canopy, but Mr Chard said that the notch would only be visible if you were standing directly in front of the gap and in any case the tree canopy would have grown over within 10 years.

There would be no long term visual impact, he said.

The last of the evidence will be heard today ahead of a site visit by the inspector tomorrow.