Outline planning permission has been granted for 100 homes to be built at Barty Farm in Roundwell, Bearsted.

But in a somewhat strange irony, councillors on Maidstone council’s planning committee refused listed building consent for the partial demolition of the wall around Barty House, on the grounds that it would detract from the 18th century listed building.

Since the demolition and rebuilding of the wall was necessary to provide access to the proposed new homes, it is not clear where the developers Crabtree and Crabtree, will go from here.

There was strong local opposition to both plans, with Dennis Spooner, for the Bearsted and Thurnham Association, Michael Stark for Thurnham Parish Council, and Bearsted ward members Cllrs Mike Cuming and Richard Ash all speaking against. Although the address is Bearsted, most of the land lies in the parish of Thurnham.

Officers agreed that the 100 homes were in an unsustainable location in the countryside but said that it could not be used a reason for objection because of the borough’s lack of a five-year housing supply.

At the same meeting, councillors refused planning permission for 10 houses on land north of Apple Tree House in Ware Street, Bearsted.

Opponents argued that the homes would add significantly to traffic problems in Ware Street and put extra strain on local schools.

The difference between the two was that Barty Farm had been included as a housing allocation site in the borough’s proposed Local Plan.