A housing estate could be on its way to a Kent Police training school despite concerns it could encourage rat-running.

Kent Police has planned for land at its Maidstone Training School, in St Saviours Road, to be used for a residential housing estate since 2012 and outline approval for 90 houses was granted in 2017.

Since planning permission was granted, Kent Police Estates has reduced the number of houses to 76 and will now offer to make 23 of those (30%) affordable housing.

The land allocated for development is currently used as a private playing field but is largely unused by the training school.

On Thursday, Maidstone Borough Council’s planning committee debated whether to approve the housing estate again.

Cllr Tony Harwood (Lib Dem) was concerned about over-development. He said: “I realise this has quite an expansive planning history, but I’ve always been concerned that development around Queen Elizabeth Square and Stratford Drive is really high density.

“It’s quite a claustrophobic feeling when you’re in there, very tight and narrow roads, lots of cars parked.

"I think the loss of green space, while not in public use, will significantly change the site.

“And 76 units seems a lot to put on those playing fields to me. I fear we’re going to repeat the mistake of high density that we’ve got on the estate behind Morrisons.”

Despite Cllr Harwood’s fear of overcrowding, planning officers claimed the plot, which measures 2.2 hectares, was more than enough for 76 houses and emphasised Kent Police’s reduction from 90 houses.

Another concern to councillors was potential rat-running around the estate, as a nearby Police-owned gate on the corner of Pested Bars Road could allow cars access to local country lanes.

Kent County Council as the highways authority didn’t object to the plans.

However Cllr Louise Brice (Con) still had doubts. She said: “The situation with rat-running does concern me.

“I’m a little confused by the claim that ‘there is no evidence that the dwellings would worsen on the rural roads as compared to what happens now'.

"If you put 76 houses on an area it’s going to make it worse, isn’t it?"

Chairman Denis Spooner also had fears with the gate. He said: “I was quite horrified when I saw that and how narrow the lanes and gate are.

"I’m surprised KCC has taken the stance they have.”

Planning officer Marion Geary clarified that while councillors could include a condition to close the gate, a housing developer may not buy it and it could create confusing boundaries.

In an urgent update sent to the committee on Thursday, Kent Police said it was “aware of the issue” and was intending to only let emergency vehicles down there in future.

The plans were given approval unanimously with 11 votes in favour.