Bearsted Woodland Trust is no longer interested in taking over part of the land offered to the public under plans to develop Roundwell Park, said trust chairman Richard Ashness.

Country House Developments is seeking permission to build 50 houses on land off Cross Keys, known locally as Lilk Meadow, but being referred to by the developer as Roundwell Park.

The site floods frequently, but the developer is proposing to leave one corner of the site undeveloped as a wetland area, and had suggested in its application details that Bearsted Woodland Trust, which already manages extensive areas of countryside for the benefit of the public, had agreed to take it over.

The trust said it had initially opened discussions with the developer, but became concerned that this was being seen as supporting the scheme.

Mr Ashness said: “We want to make it absolutely clear, the trust does not support this planning application. On the contrary, we share the widely held view that Bearsted has already been overdeveloped.”

Mr Ashness said: “Our policy has been to expand the area we manage over the years. We have also twice approached the owners of the land at Cross Keys, but they had previously refused to open negotiations with us.

"We share the widely held view that Bearsted has already been overdeveloped...” -Chairman Richard Ashness

“Therefore, when approached to say that part of this land could be available to the trust, we confirmed that we remained interested in owning and managing it and Maidstone Borough Council encouraged us to have discussions with the land owners.

“But it is entirely wrong to suggest that our long-term interest in owning and managing this land on behalf of our community implies any sort of support for a housing development.

“If our interest is being taken as a factor in favour of granting planning permission, I want to make it clear we would not wish to manage the land in the future.”

*The Bearsted and Thurnham Society, which is also opposing the application, this week encouraged its members to contact the borough council with their objections. The site is designated as open countryside and has not been included in the latest draft Local Plan.

The deadline for public responses has been extended for the second time to Wednesday, December 24.

It is possible to respond to the application online at Maidstone council’s website: www.maidstone.gov.uk, quoting planning application 14/504795.