A developer’s bid to build on part of Fant Farm in Maidstone has caused an outcry among residents.

Gleeson Developments organised a public exhibition at Fant Community Centre of its ideas to plant 270 homes on the 150-acres of farmland, but a group of residents gathered outside the hall with placards to protest against the plan.

They were supported by their local Fant Ward councillors.

Cllr Alistair Black (Con) said: “We are not happy about these plans. If Gleeson proceeds with a planning application, then people will face many months of blight while the application is considered.

“We think the road network is at capacity and cannot handle any more traffic and we detest the loss of Grade 1 agricultural farmland and the damage that housing here could do to the beautiful Medway Valley landscape.”

Cllr Stephen Paine (Con), also a councillor for Fant Ward, said: “I and my colleagues voted to take this site out of the Draft Local Plan back in March, because we believed it was not a suitable place to put additional housing.

“However, the law doesn’t prevent Gleeson or any other firm trying to bypass the process by putting a planning application in directly.

“The council will have to consider this application, when it comes, against existing planning policies.”

A residents group, convened a year ago to contest the possible inclusion of Fant Farm in the council’s draft Local Plan, had lapsed after the site was rejected by the council. It is now likely to be regenerated to fight the Gleeson proposal.

Gleeson is expected to submit a formal application around Christmas.

The company is proposing that the vast majority of the site be handed over to form a country park, to include a children’s play area and picnic park. Housing would be confined to the north east corner, with access from Gatland Lane.