The future of a former dairy site in Edenbridge will be decided this week.

A planning application, submitted to Sevenoaks District Council, seeks to receive permission for the development of the former Unigate Dairies Ltd And Devonia plot in Main Road.

It outlines plans to build five four-bedroom terraced houses fronting Main Road and two three-bedroom semi-detached homes to the rear with associated access via Hillcrest Road.

Up to 14 parking spaces have also been proposed on the site that has been largely cleared of buildings.

The application has been referred to the council's development control committee by councillor Jill Davison on the grounds of design and dangerous access.

She added: "Whatever KCC says the access is lethal and the design, albeit
only indicative, is atrocious."

Councillor John Scholey believes there will be inadequate parking, conflict between the site access and cars parked on Hillcrest Road.

"Whatever KCC says the access is lethal and the design, albeit
only indicative, is atrocious" - Cllr Jill Davison

He added: "The KCC adopted parking standards includes a minimum and maximum provision and the proposal is for slightly above the minimum standard.

"Now that permission for converting the shop in The Row into offices and housing
has been approved, the local pressure on on-street parking means that all new housing developments in this area need to be at the KCC maximum, i.e. 2 parking spaces per dwelling.

"Due to the parking pressure in this area Hillcrest Road frequently has one lane
fully occupied with parked cars, some of which are serving a nursery.

"In such circumstances the proposed access for the development would be onto, in reality,
a single track road."

Planning officers are recommending approval of the plans.

The site has been subject to a number of recent planning applications for residential development which have all been refused, and two appeals which have been dismissed, the most recent of which was in 2013 and for a development of 7 dwellings in a different form to the current proposal.

Edenbridge Town Council has objected to the application on the multiple grounds of access, lack of parking, height and mass of the buildings, poor design and the overbearing loss of light to Tralee.

A statement read: "Members wish the Officers attention to be drawn to the fact that there is no available off street parking and that the vacant site is currently used by the residents of the Row who will now be seeking parking in the surrounding streets.

"The proposed dwellings are higher than Eccles House and those proposed in the previously declined application. Members consider them out of keeping and the semis are overbearing and likely to cause loss of light to Tralee."

A report produced by Kent Highways stated recent crash records show no personal injury incident in Hillcrest Road between July 2009 and June 2014. Staff discussed the restrictions of visibility caused by shrubbery overhanging the highway that has now been cut back.

A noise impact assessment found that internal noise within the residential units would conform to set levels.

The council has received 14 letters of objection but according to chief planning officer, Richard Morris, the site is located within the built confines of Edenbridge where the principle of development in generally accepted.

He added: "I consider the principle of the development, layout and access to be acceptable. The applicant has also demonstrated that a suitable development can be achieved in terms of height, scale and design, and this would be controlled under a reserved matters application."

A decision will be made at a development control committee meeting on Friday.