A controversial plan for 450 homes on Medway’s green lung will go ahead, after the government overturned a decision by the council.

Medway councillors rejected the Gibraltar Farm development in Capstone Valley after the proposal sparked uproar. The council received hundreds of letters of objection and a petition signed by almost 3,000 people.

The Attwoods, who were behind the application, appealed the decision and, following a planning inquiry, the Secretary of State for Communities has upheld their appeal.

In a report, the Secretary of State said the benefits of the development significantly outweigh the disadvantages of losing the site for agricultural land.

The report states: “The proposed dwellings would provide much needed homes, including affordable homes and this would provide for an improvement in peoples’ quality of life.

"This is alongside some benefits for existing residents in terms of play space and sustainable transport provision.

"Although there are concerns that existing residents may experience some detrimental impact on their amenity and not feel their views have been listened to.

"Like the Inspector, the Secretary of State considers, on balance that the social benefits weigh heavily in favour of the proposal.”

One of the main concerns about Gibraltar Farm was that if it was approved it might open the floodgates to develop parcels of open land across Medway.

Chatham MP Tracey Crouch has spoken out against the proposals in the past.

Following the decision, she said: “The news that the appeal regarding proposals to develop land at Gibraltar Farm has received approval is bitterly disappointing.

"Local residents have made absolutely clear their opposition to the proposals time and again and the inspector can be in no doubt that this development goes against the very clear wishes of the public.

“I have reiterated my own opposition and concerns at length to both Medway Council and the inspector at all stages of the process, including the loss of green space, wildlife, and the impact on local services and our already overburdened road network.

"It is extremely frustrating that the genuine concerns of local residents have been ignored and I believe that this is the wrong decision for the local area.”

She added: “I will continue to fight any further development of our much valued green space along side local residents.”

Vanessa Jones, chairman of Bredhurst Parish Council, said: “This is devastating news. Devastating for Bredhurst and Hempstead.

"We know that this landowner has other plots of land and this will open the floodgates.

"This is the death knell for Capstone Valley.”

Medway Council leader Alan Jarrett said the implications are huge.

He added: "I'm absolutely appalled. Here again we've got an unelected government inspector overturning a decision made by democratically elected councillors.

"It's a completely inappropriate development - for all the reasons listed by the planning committee.'

"The road systems aren't geared up for that size of development at all."