Plans to build 475 homes near Hoo have been thrown out by the Planning Inspectorate.

Taylor Wimpey’s proposal to develop greenfield land west of the village was dismissed by Medway Council, but the final say went to planning inspector Paul Clark who held an inquiry into the plans last month.

His final decision to dismiss the plans was published today together with a report on his findings.

While he accepted the development would bring benefits, particularly in the absence of a local plan for housing development, he said the proposal fell down on issues of sustainability as it was beyond reasonable walking distance from the main village of Hoo and its services.

"The harm which would result from the consequent high dependency on car travel is significant," he added.

He said that he development would also cause enduring harm to the landscape and that the "combination of harms would outweigh the temporal advantages of bringing forward housing now."

He concluded: "In consequence, the proposal cannot be said to be a sustainable development. That being so, the presumption in favour of sustainable development cannot apply. Notwithstanding the consequences of the advice in NPF paragraph 49 that the housing supply policies are not up to date, there are insufficient material considerations to warrant a decision other than in accordance with the development plan and so, I dismiss the appeal."

Mr Clark also anticipated that the housing need in Medway would be addressed by the formation of a new local plan.