Residents have been left concerned after discovering more trees opposite their homes could be cut down to make way for a wall and slip road.

Additional changes were submitted for the Pippins Place development in East Malling to the council and are yet to be approved.

Known to locals as Forty Acres Field, construction started on the land in May to turn it into a 250-home estate.

The planning application attracted 621 letters of objection in 2021, as well as two petitions against the scheme.

However, permission was granted on appeal by a government planning inspector after Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council (TMBC) councillors rejected the proposals twice.

In September, building developer Vistry submitted some additional changes to their plans, which haven’t been given the go ahead yet.

This included a retaining wall near the entrance which would require the removal of several trees which line the northern border of the site.

A planning document explained: “As part of the Highways approval from KCC we have worked up the site entrance to a further level of detail.

“During this detailed design process it has become apparent that to achieve the additional lane specified in the plans a retaining wall will be required to the west of the access, this is shown on the boundary treatments plan.

“Whilst this will have an impact on trees, requiring additional trees to be removed, they are of low quality.

“In addition, this option will have less of an impact on trees than the alternative solution which would be to gradually bank the site down to the road, taking up a far greater area and requiring the removal of an additional 14 trees over the retaining wall option.”

People living along the A20 London Road opposite the site are concerned about the change of plans.

They claim they were reassured that there wouldn’t be any felling to make way for the development.

Nigel Fowler moved to the area in June with his wife Ruth and says the removal of greenery is “unnecessary”.

The 72-year-old previously stood under the trees in protest after he woke up to the sound of chainsaws cutting them down.

Vistry told KentOnline three trees were scheduled to be removed after being approved in the planning application.

They also said they were of “low quality and posed a potential risk to safety”.

The developers held a meeting last Tuesday, October 31, with several residents following the cutting of the trees.

Nigel says he is now concerned the proposed slip road will cause more congestion in the area.

“There will be an exodus on the road in the morning, which will affect the flow of the traffic,” he explained.

“It’s going to be 10 times more difficult to get off our drive – the impact will be massive.

“There will be a fatality. It’s unbelievable.

“It’s how they have gone about it, nobody has informed us.”

Nearby neighbour Sue Boulter agrees, adding: “Motorbikes and cars race along this road constantly – it’s extremely busy.

“We have asked for speed cameras, but they won’t put any in as nobody has been killed. When the estate comes it will get worse.”

The 56-year-old moved into her home with husband Darren in February 2020.

“I have worked in the construction industry for most of my life, I understand they have time frames,” she added.

“We aren’t moaning about the housing estate being there – it is the changes that have been made. It won’t surprise me if it is approved.”

Another homeowner added: “The slip road was never on the original plans and is completely unnecessary.

“We are told it's to help assist residents to turn left out of the development, yet there are nearby traffic lights that will stop traffic to easily allow this.

“Those trees are not only a natural barrier of view and noise to the site, but are vital in tackling air pollution.”

The residents have also received support from Tom Tugendhat, Conservative MP for Tonbridge and Malling.

He said: “The addition of a slip road instead of existing trees for the Forty Acre Field development is, understandably, disappointing for residents who have fought development here for many years.

“I have approached Vistry asking why they cannot retain these important trees which form a natural boundary between their development and the A20 at Leybourne.

“I’ve also approached TMBC to ask that they enforce strongly any works that are not already approved.”

A Tree Preservation Order (TPO) had previously been served on some of the trees within the development, which still stands.

However, the greenery which borders the site doesn’t have this protection.

The parish council asked TMBC to consider another TPO before planning permission was granted on appeal.

They were to be kept as part of the landscaping plan and were not at risk.

East Malling and Larkfield Parish Council chairman David Thornewell said: “This is all a most unsatisfactory state of affairs and shows that the parish council was right in the first place to ask for a TPO.

“It seems if trees are just shown on landscaping plans as being kept in reality they are not protected at all.

“I fear this is another example of our weak planning system and as a parish we still think a TPO should be served before more trees are cut down without any consideration of their amenity value.”

It is not yet known when the planning amendment will be approved or rejected.

A spokeswoman for Vistry added: “As part of the detailed design process for the new junction at the entrance to Pippins Place, a retaining wall has been proposed to be added between the site and the road to retain as many trees as possible in the area of works.

“We have submitted our proposals to TMBC and await their decision.

“More than half of the land at Pippins Place has been designated as green open space.

“This includes the creation of a new country park which will boost the number of trees, hedgerows and other habitats.

“Any existing trees within the development which are ancient or of special importance as bat habitats will be retained.”