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A public inquiry into an appeal by housing developer Gladman which wants to build 75 homes on land not far from the historic St Mary's Abbey in West Malling has been postponed.
The two-day informal hearing had been due to start tomorrow in the Tonbridge and Malling Council Chamber at Kings Hill.
But the Planning Inspectorate said the hearing had been postponed indefinitely due to "the need to find a new planning inspector."
The postponement will be welcomed by many who object to the scheme on land off Ashton Way, on the A228, who said there had been no consultation and no opportunity for them to give their views.
One of the principal concerns about the site is the potential for an adverse effect on St Mary's Abbey, an historic monument, which in parts dates back to the 12 the century that lies close by. The abbey is currently home to nine nuns.
Gladman submitted an application to Tonbridge and Malling council on December 4, 2019, but the borough council felt the company had not submitted enough information to allow it to assess it, and so did not put the details on its website nor produce a public notice asking for the views of the public.
After waiting the statutory eight weeks, Gladman appealed to the government’s planning inspectorate for "non-determination."
Subsequently, on April 28, Tonbridge and Malling posted details of the application under the appeals section of their planning website, advising that any public comment should go directly to the planning inspector.
However, the inspectorate had announced a deadline for public comments as May 6 - only eight days after the details of the application were known.
The application is outline only, with only the highway access to be confirmed. The firm is seeking a single highway connection to Station Approach, near West Malling Station.
Gladman proposes building 45 market properties and 30 affordable homes on the three-hectare site, which is currently agricultural land.
It is not within the borough's existing adopted Local Plan, but Tonbridge and Malling's recent attempts to present a new Local Plan were rejected by the Planning Inspectorate.
The situation leaves Tonbridge and Malling unable to demonstrate that it has a five-year land supply, giving a presumption in favour of any housing development.
Tonbridge and Malling had intended to include the site in a planned extension of its Green Belt, that would have given it far greater protection from development.
The site is close to another - Forty Acre Field - which in March was granted planning permission for 250 homes at appeal, after twice being rejected by the borough council.
When the appeal is rescheduled there is an opportunity for the public to speak at the hearing, at the discretion of the planning inspector.
Residents should email their wish to speak to Neale Oliver, the appeal case officer, at east2@planninginspectorate.gov.uk.
'It's really important that as many people as possible register to speak'
Concerned resident John Dean lives in Offham Road, West Malling, and had urged the inspectorate to postpone the hearing.
He said: "The application has not been the subject of any public notification with a deadline given for comments from the public, has not been considered by any Tonbridge and Malling planning committee nor the full council, and representations made to the Planning Inspectorate cannot be viewed publicly, so neither Gladman nor the council has had the opportunity to consider them in the required five weeks before the appeal.
"I believe that is contrary to the Town and Country Planning Acts and is certainly an affront to democracy.
"The appeal should be postponed until the appropriate consultation has been undertaken and elected councillors have been able to consider their views before finalising their own response."
In case that doesn't happen, Mr Dean had a message for other concerned residents. He said: "It is really important that as many people as possible register to speak to make their views known to the inspector in view of the lack of consultation so far."
The original planning application reference number was 19/02856.
Documents for the appeal hearing can be viewed on the Inspectorate's website, reference APP/H2265/W/20/3254563.
