Plans to build more than 300 homes and earn a developer around £100 million are gathering pace.

Redrow's South East division has bought 26 acres of land at Bicknor Farm, between Otham and Langley, near Maidstone.

The developer has plans to build 302 homes on the site, formerly owned by Jones Homes Ltd, and rename the land Monchelsea Park.

Maidstone Borough Council has already highlighted Bicknor Farm as an area where up to 335 homes could be built.

Jones Homes Ltd was given the go ahead to build 271 homes on the land off Sutton Road in 2017, but last week the sale of the land to Redrow, the company building 295 homes at the old Whatman Paper Mill site off Royal Engineers Road, was finalised.

Redrow has submitted a new planning application to MBC, but is already letting potential buyers register interest.

Its website says homes could start from £339,995.

"We would like to see the affordable dwellings spread more evenly throughout the proposed development" - Otham Parish Council

Glen Wells, Land Director at Redrow South East, comments: “We are thrilled to have completed the acquisition of this site.

"Maidstone and the surrounding area are fantastic places to live, with an incredible selection of schools and great connections to London.

"We previously completed a scheme, The Coppice, on adjacent land and are confident that these latest homes will prove just as popular as our earlier development with particular appeal to growing and established families."

The development is expected to be made up of one and two bedroom flats along with two, three and four bedroom houses. Just under a third of the homes will be affordable.

Otham Parish Council has responded to Redrow's application, stating: "Otham Parish Council is disappointed that the developer has not made any attempt to have dialogue with members.

"The council is concerned that too many houses are being built on the already overloaded A274 Sutton Road.

"The appropriate infrastructure needs to be in place before more vehicles add to the congestion.

"The council would like to see the affordable dwellings spread more evenly throughout the proposed development, rather than heavily concentrated in two corners.

"We recommend that every road should have a mix of housing."

The developer hopes to create an open space at the centre of the development for residents to use.

• Read the full application at MBC's Planning Portal, reference 19/503912/FULL.

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