Plans to build a housing estate on farmland have been turned down.

Fruit farmers AC Goatham and Son had wanted permission to build 1,250 homes on orchards off Pump Lane in Rainham.

But the proposal sparked a wave of protest from residents, councillors and environmentalists who held public meetings and plastered the area with banners and posters.

An online petition collected more than 1,000 signatures and the council's planning portal prompted 3,307 comments.

Among their concerns were over-development of the rural area, noise and pollution. They also feared that the narrow road, already widely used, could not cope with extra traffic.

Goatham's, which has farms across Kent and a base at Hoo St Werburgh, had also applied for a two-form entry primary school, a 60-bed extra care facility, an 80-bed care home, hall and village green.

Cllr Martin Potter (Con), one of the ward councillors, said: "This development would have been hugely detrimental to the local area and would have been highly detrimental to the quality of life local people enjoy. On behalf of our community we say good riddance."

The Medway Messenger has approached AC Goatham and Son for a comment this morning.

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