Plans to build a large housing estate on a plum and apple orchard have been thrown out amid fears it would have been "harmful" to a village.

Objectors to the proposal to build up to 117 homes in Marden said they were also worried about the effect on wildlife, and that bendy, narrow lanes wouldn’t cope with additional traffic which could lead to a fatality.

Rydon Homes applied to Maidstone council for permission to build the scheme in September.

The estate was proposed for a site east of Albion Road, north of Copper Lane, and would have bordered Russet Grove, which was built on the old Marden Cricket and Hockey Club.

The homes would have been accessed off Albion Road, with a path for pedestrians, cyclists and emergency use off Copper Lane.

Of the 117 homes, 16 would have had two bedrooms, 36 would have had three bedrooms and 18 four bedrooms.

A further 47 properties were earmarked as affordable homes consisting of 31 houses of between two and four bedrooms and 16 one-bedroom flats.

The 59,800 sq m site – the equivalent of about 11 full-sized football pitches – would have also had 262 parking spaces and 289 spots for bikes.

However, three months after being submitted, the application has now been quashed.

The development's proposed location in the countryside, rather than in built-up areas suggested in the Maidstone Borough Local Plan, was one of the reasons given for refusal.

The rejection notice, signed by Maidstone council’s head of development management Rob Jarman, said: “It would erode the sense of tranquillity, resulting in an urbanising and visually prominent form of development – out of character with the rural locality and visually harmful to the setting of Marden.

"The indicative layout shows cramped over-development along the access road entrance and in the north east corner.

"The harmful development would be particularly visually prominent due to site topography and the site being elevated above Thorn Road and Copper Lane.

"There is a significant loss of the orchard with only two very small areas being retained – contrary to conserving what is a defining land use important to the landscape character of the Staplehurst Low Weald."

The report also noted that a lack of safe pedestrian and cycle access to services in Marden would have made residents dependent on vehicles for day-to-day travel.

Further concerns were also raised regarding the protection of animal species.

Kent Wildlife Trust had previously aired worries about the development's potential impact on turtle doves and other globally threatened and protected bird species, due to the potential loss of habitat, food sources, increased cat predation and artificial lighting.

The refusal notice goes on to say: "The ecology appraisal is deficient in terms of provision of habitat and/or mitigation for badgers, breeding birds, turtle doves, great crested newts and reptiles, and in the assessment of the ecological value of the orchard in situ.

"The applicant has not taken account of local information provided by Kent Wildlife Trust and Marden Wildlife Group, nor engaged with those groups.

"Therefore it is not possible to confirm compliance with statutory species protection legislation."

There was also concern about the impact on schools. The notice continued: "The development will result in significant additional pressure on Kent County Council (KCC) infrastructure, including primary and secondary education."

Many Marden residents voiced their concerns in public comments they made on the council’s planning website, before the project was refused.

Paul Dobinson, who has lived in the village for nearly 33 years, believes it would be “dangerous”.

The Howland Road resident explained: "Marden has expanded considerably and I believe enough is enough.

“The neighbouring lanes and roads are far too small to accommodate further traffic.

"Albion Road and Thorn Road are barely wide enough for two normal-width cars, [plus] have no pavement.

"Plain Road and Copper Lane are even narrower.

"The entrances and exits at either end of Copper Lane are dangerous with limited visibility.

"Plain Road [also] has some severe bends and a single-width bridge - these lanes are used by walkers, runners and cyclists and an increase in traffic will make this area even more dangerous.”

David Stamp added: "I live in Primrose Close, just off Plain Road, and walk to the Plain Road and Albion Road junction nearly every day to access shops and the cafe in the High Street.

"Despite Albion Road and Plain Road both being 30mph, vehicles frequently travel at far in excess of this, endangering pedestrians walking and crossing the road.

“This new development will significantly increase the danger of pedestrian injury or death, whether a short pavement is provided or not.

"The desire for profit should not come before road safety.”

Resident Laura Groves believes the development would also disturb wildlife, echoing the views of the Kent Wildlife Trust.

She said: "The housing density of the proposed development is considered entirely inappropriate for the setting within open countryside.

"Much of the development sits on an elevated section of ground that will render the development visibly obtrusive from the surrounding countryside.

"Light pollution is a significant concern and will cause disturbance to wildlife, the environment and local residents."

It is not yet known whether Rydon Homes will appeal the decision.

The company has 28 days to do so.