Villagers are angry that councillors are being urged to grant permission for a “mansion” and two other homes on the ruins of a monastery.

Harry Fern of East Farleigh wants to build a six-bedroom Queen Anne-style detached house with undercroft parking and a swimming pool at Abbey Farm in Leeds.

The substantial property would be largely hidden from view by a belt of trees. But two further three-bedroom detached homes, described in the application as “cottages,” would be built next to Lower Road and be clearly visible.

The site is officially in the countryside and has not been allocated in the Local Plan, so normally permission would be refused – and indeed was refused for a similar application in August 2022 – but planning officers say there are special circumstances that allow an exception to be made.

The 9.5-hectare plot includes the site of Leeds Priory, dating from the 1100s, and although the priory – and a substantial mansion house that replaced it – have long since gone, the site is classified as a Scheduled Ancient Monument and contains three listed features.

They are the remnants of the priory's dovecote, the remains of the monastic “slype” – effectively a connecting corridor – and separately parts of a medieval wall.

All are in poor condition and the dovecote no longer has a roof.

The applicant has promised to restore all three and will actually convert the dovecote to form an extended dining hall and kitchen.

The plan has the approval of Historic England but has attracted 27 letters in opposition, including one from Leeds Parish Council.

Among them is an objection from the Saunders family who live in the adjacent Abbey Farm House, which is itself a Grade II listed property, and which shares the existing access drive to Abbey Farm.

They maintain that although the scheme might help restore aspects of Abbey Farm, no account had been taken of the negative effects on their own property, or other listed homes nearby.

Other neighbours were more forthright in their condemnation.

Barnie Razzell of Upper Street, Leeds, said: “I am utterly dismayed at Historic England's support for this scheme. The development with its new-builds with solar panels will utterly destroy the historic character and centre of Leeds Village.”

He said there were other alternatives to preserve the site, adding: “With support, a community-led scheme could raise funds to preserve the site, grounds and woods for the public rather than as a rockery for a footballer’s mansion.”

Peter Barrett of Lower Street, was critical that the plan involved creating two new accesses onto Lower Road.

He said: “Both are on the fastest section of the road, one less than 50 metres from the exit to the playing field, the second adjacent to the blind bend on the hill from Lower Street. They both look like accidents waiting to happen.

“Meanwhile, the pre-medieval access lane to the original Leeds Priory will be destroyed and, as the drawing shows, a house will be built on it.

“I have no confidence that this developer will restore any of ancient building sympathetically.”

He described plans for the mansion house as a “carbuncle.”

Richard Zijlstra of Lower Street, was concerned about the effect on wildlife in the extensive grounds, which were once landscaped by Cabability Brown and include a man-made lake.

He said: “The land containing the lake and the ruins of the priory is an established habitat for wildlife. I strongly object to the plans of turning this habitat into someone’s idea of a clipped garden at the expense of a well established habitat. It is shameful.”

Terry Thrussell of Brogden Crescent said: “It would be criminal to allow this development.”

Melissa Comins said: “As a villager who uses the road daily, I feel these two new points of access will cause chaos and will be dangerous, as pulling out onto the busy congested B2163 is not easy at these points.”

KCC is the highways authority and it has not objected to the plans. Although two new entrances would be created, one existing entrance would be closed up, so a net gain of only one.

Admitting that the development would be harmful to the countryside, the applicant’s agent argued that, with landscaping, the harm would be "minor”.

But the project would restore the last upstanding remains of the former Leeds Priory and 16th century Meredith Mansion, “enhancing the historical understanding of the site, restoring the historic landscape and safeguarding the site for future generations.”

All of that would be achieved through private funding by the applicant and with no cost to the public purse.

Both the dovecote and the slype are currently on the Historic Buildings At Risk Register.

The site was originally the Augustinian Priory of St Mary and St Nicholas, founded in 1119 by Robert Crevecouer.

It was destroyed by Henry VIII around 1540 during the dissolution of the monasteries.

Subsequently, a substantial property known as Meredith Mansion was built on the site during the 18th century, which reused much of the priory’s stonework.

Capability’ Brown landscaped the grounds between 1765 to 1772.

The site includes an 18th century long barn and a mid-late 19th century cattle barn, both of which already have planning permission for residential conversion.

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In the new plans, the cattle barn would be used as the pool house, rather than as a residence, so the overall net gain in dwellings would be two.

Two other 20th century barns would be demolished.

The restoration of the historic features was costed at £2.5m in January 2021 and will be substantially more now.

The applicant has promised to make the site available for visits by the general public on two days per year including the provision of appropriate interpretation materials to help visitors understand the historic features of the site. He has also committed to opening up the site for academic research on five days per year.

The planning application will be determined by Maidstone council’s planning committee tomorrow (Thursday).