A traveller site can take more mobile homes, a planning committee has decided.

The land at Chart View in Chart Hill Road, Chart Sutton, near Maidstone, currently has four mobile homes on it - although it had permission for only three - but councillors have now agreed permission should be granted to allow a total of seven caravans.

The site itself is not being enlarged, but will simply be more densely used.

Planning officers said Maidstone was facing a significant shortfall of traveller pitches - the most recent assessment had found that the borough would need another 340 by 2040.

Cllr Val Springett (Con) had some concerns and drew the committee’s attention to a previous planning inspector’s report, who, while allowing permission for the current number of pitches, had warned any increase could see the traveller sites come to dominate the local settled community.

She said: “We just don’t seem to be looking at that issue.”

But officers said the inspector had made his comment when the borough could show a five-year supply of gypsy and traveller pitches. Now it was down to only 1.2 years’ provision.

Cllr Denis Spooner had similar concerns.

He said: “Over the years, we have seen permission granted for two or three caravans on a field, and then two or three more.

“All the existing sites are getting filled up. It’s not going to be long before we have applications coming forward on virgin sites.”

He urged to council’s new cabinet members to hasten the completion of its Gypsy Travellers and Showpeople development policy to ensure there were appropriate controls in place.

Cllr Tony Harwood (Lib Dem) said he thought that the application was a positive move, giving rise to the opportunity to increase the screening of the site with more hedgerows.

His motion to accept the application was passed.

The application had been opposed by the Chart Hill Road Residents’ Association and by Chart Sutton Parish Council.