A developer wants to build more than 400 homes on land destined for commercial use.

Liberty Property Trust is appealing to the planning inspectorate over a refusal by Tonbridge and Malling council to allow more housing at Kings Hill.

The company wants to develop land between Tower View and Kings Hill Avenue, between north and east Jubilee Way, a plot north of Amber Lane and another between Kings Hill Avenue and Abbey Road.

The sites were designated for employment use in the masterplan for the estate. Instead, the firm wants to build an extra 435 homes.

The borough council rejected the applications in May, saying there was no justification for the loss of employment land, which was what was needed in the borough and it would be “completely at odds” with the existing uses of the land and how it would look.

The council said: “The introduction of new residential development in this location would be completely at odds with the prevailing and established built environment both in terms of prevalent land uses and visual appearance.”

The site had originally been intended for a high quality, campus-style development for offices, research and development and light industrial use, including hotel, conference, education and training and commercial leisure uses.

The developer will argue that the council cannot prove a five-year supply of housing, so the appeal should be allowed.

The issue will be determined at a public inquiry at The Orchards, New Road, East Malling, on Tuesday, December 3, at 10am.

Members of the public can attend and, at the inspector’s discretion, give their views. Planning appeal APP/H2265/w/19/3235166 refers.

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