A developer has withdrawn controversial plans to build hundreds of homes across farmland and a road in a rural conservation area.

Berkeley Homes first submitted its outline application to Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council to build 900 homes at Broadwater Farm, between East Malling and Kings Hill, two and a half years ago.

But this week the house-builder announced it was withdrawing its current bid – at least for the time being.

Members of the Broadwater Action Group (BAG), which was formed by residents to oppose the scheme, were delighted, but also felt aggrieved the application was not determined by the borough council, as they believed its refusal was justified.

The site had previously been identified for development in the draft Tonbridge and Malling Borough Local Plan, but that had to be withdrawn in July 2021 after criticism from a government inspector.

Berkeley has submitted the site for inclusion in the new Local Plan, currently being worked up by the borough, and the developer insists it is still a good idea.

A spokesman for the property group said: “Of the 900 new homes, 30% were proposed to be affordable, and we proposed a new primary and secondary school, together with land for a medical centre, public open space and net biodiversity gain.”

He added: “Berkeley continues to believe that Broadwater Farm can deliver a range of benefits for the local area.

“We remain committed and intend to prepare a revised planning application in due course, once the new Local Plan is more advanced.

“A revised application will also afford us the opportunity to respond positively to feedback on our earlier application.”

The application attracted more than 1,500 individual letters of objection.

Spokesman for the Broadwater Action Group, Becky Robinson Hugill, said: “Our executive committee is very pleased that Berkeley Homes have abandoned their outline application for Broadwater Farm.

“However, we feel it should have been determined by TMBC as a refusal would have been justified.

“The plan included inaccuracies, inconsistencies and, alarmingly, plans for a mile-long access road through a rural conservation area.

“BAG members worked tirelessly to challenge many aspects of the application and we remain grateful for their diligence in this respect.

“With 1,500 valid planning objections lodged, this collective voice will have undoubtedly come as a wakeup call to Berkeley Homes and have given a strong steer to TMBC on what their residents feel about the obliteration of valuable orchards and high-grade farmland and the resulting harm to existing communities, wildlife and heritage assets.

“BAG has learned an immense amount since the application was submitted and we will continue to monitor both the Local Plan process and any further applications for the development of Broadwater Farm.

“Although we are disappointed that the process has been so drawn out, we welcome the withdrawal of what was a deeply flawed, highly damaging and inappropriate application.”

Berkeley had proposed a lengthy dual carriageway to provide access to the new estate from the A228 Ashton Way, which would have affected both New Barns and Broadwater Farm Conservation Area and the Mill Street Conservation Area.

Daniel Markham is another who had campaigned against the scheme, making several videos demonstrating the attractiveness of the countryside site as it is.

He said: “This is excellent news. The application was simply in the wrong place – over prime agricultural land and beautiful productive orchards.

“The link road they proposed was overkill, with many people suspecting they were simply future-proofing the area for more development farther down the line.

“The plan would have extended Kings Hill into East Malling, where residents already have enough going on around them, with development at the research centre and elsewhere.

“They just felt they had it coming at them from all sides.”

But Mr Markham warned: “We shall have to stay alert. They will be back.”

The chairman of East Malling and Larkfield Parish Council, Cllr David Thornewell, who had previously led a protest walk against the development said: “It’s a mystery why they’ve chosen to withdraw at this point. Perhaps it’s the national level of uncertainty, the downturn in the housing market or perhaps because the Government has still not introduced the planning reforms it promised for July.

“Whatever the reason, I hope they use this opportunity to re-think their plans, particularly the road through the conservation area which pleased no-one.”