The approval of almost 400 homes on land by a business park has been branded “a bad decision” that will harm the residents of nearby villages.

Swale’s planning committee has given the green light for 380 new homes to be built on land west of Church Road, in Tonge, by the Eurolink industrial estate in Sittingbourne.

In May last year, developers Trenport (East Hall Park Ltd) submitted plans to turn the fields into hundreds of homes along with an open play space for future residents.

A statement by On Architecture, acting on behalf of Trenport, said: “The vision for the site is to provide a high quality new residential-led logical extension to Sittingbourne, set within an attractive landscape setting to create a well-integrated, connected, inclusive and sustainable place for new and existing residents to enjoy.

“There will be a range of house types and sizes from one to four bedroom houses and apartments as well as 450 sqm of non-residential floorspace and newly equipped play areas.”

The statement also explained that plans for the site include a network of on-site footpaths and cycle routes which will connect the site to the local area and enhance access for existing and future residents to the wider countryside.

Trenport has also stated that there is potential for land to be safeguarded for the Sittingbourne Northern Relief Road (SNRR).

Proposals for the SNRR were first mentioned in 1975 and the idea was suggested as a way of reducing the traffic flow within the town.

This long-awaited connection would go through the Eurolink trading estate and connect Swale Way with the A2 at Bapchild, the same area that Trenport plans to build on.

Because of this, the housing developer has stated it will not build on that proposed area in its plans so the relief road could potentially still go ahead in the future.

Earlier this year it was confirmed that the controversial development was likely to go ahead despite residents’ fears of overdevelopment and congestion.

Planning chiefs recommended the outline application be approved in January.

But not everyone was as keen for the new build to go ahead.

Tory councillor for the area, Julien Speed, took to Facebook to share his disappointment after Trenport’s plans were given the go-ahead on Monday, June 5.

He said: “I regret to advise that the application to build 380 new houses on Land West of Church Road in Tonge was approved at the planning committee meeting.

“My fellow Conservative councillor, Lloyd Bowen, spoke against the application as a ward member.

“I now sit on the Swale planning committee and I voted against this application as I considered there to be sound planning grounds for the Inspector to refuse it.

“The new plan is a 258% uplift on the housing previously allocated, traffic congestion and air quality will get worse, public transport is poor, heritage assets will be harmed and where will the new residents go for a GP?

“I'm sorry, but this was a bad decision and will adversely affect residents of Teynham and Lynsted ward, in particular Heron Fields. It was knife-edge too with seven for and six against – there were four abstentions.”

The approval comes just a few weeks after it was announced that work on an access road to another housing proposal of 300 homes in the area is due to start later this year.

Housing developer Chartway Partnerships Group has confirmed construction will soon begin off Frognal Lane, in Teynham.

The number of new build proposals in the area has left residents worried about traffic, pollution and the strain on already struggling services.

Jocelyn Cruse, of Makin Drive in Sittingbourne, wrote to the council to object to the plans.

She said: “As a resident at Heron Fields, I am very concerned that vehicles belonging to the 380 houses will be using the roundabout by Great Easthall Way and onto Swale Way which will cause a very serious congestion problem for residents of Heron Fields, Great Easthall Development and the new development.

“There is only one way in and one way out for all residents combined which is via a very narrow road with a chicane which is already extremely dangerous with vans parked either side and little visibility.

“I am also concerned that vehicles will have access from/to the new development through the smaller roads at Heron Fields which will be both dangerous and noisy.”

Ian Knight from Hempstead Lane in Tonge also submitted his objections to the planning committee.

He said: “These are quiet, rural areas where wildlife and nature flourish, with this new development it's set to face an increase in traffic and pollution.

“The linking up of Church Road, Herron Fields and Great East Hall means that Tonge Road, Hempstead Lane and the Lower Road in Teynham become even more of a rat run as we could see journeys increase by 1,300 cars a day (coming off the Eurolink to the A2, and vice-versa).

“These country roads cannot support this traffic (already multiple collapses due to construction traffic to the gold club).

“As a local resident whose family enjoy walking/cycling through the country lanes to access open space, schools and shops, I can't see this being safe in future (none of these roads has pavements) and cars speed over 30 as it is.”

For more details on the plans enter 22/502834/EIOUT into the Swale council planning portal.