Permission has been granted for almost 300 homes to be built on farmland despite objections.

Hundreds of people opposed the plans for Ufton Court Farm, in Tunstall near Sittingbourne.

More than 200 letters of objection from members of the public were sent to Swale council in response to the proposed Ufton Green development.

In November last year, the council rejected the application for the housing, which would cover the size of 40 standard 11-a-side football pitches.

It said the site fell outside the boundaries of Sittingbourne and was not allocated for housing in its Local Plan.

It added that it would risk spoiling the character of the countryside, would mean loss of top-grade farmland and it missed the authority’s target of 40% affordable homes as it would only provide 30%.

But the plans, submitted by Urban Wilderness in November 2022, went to appeal in December.

The decision by planning inspector, David Spencer, to allow the proposals for 290 homes, of which 87 will be affordable, was published on Friday, July 5.

He pointed to the need for house building in Swale as the primary reason to allow the proposals.

Some 5,430 homes are earmarked for construction between April 1 last year and March 31, 2028 across the borough.

However, Mr Spencer says the council’s development plan is “not delivering the required number of homes needed by some margin”.

He acknowledged the development would encroach into the open countryside which separates Sittingbourne and Tunstall but says there will still be a “sizeable gap” left.

He also addressed concerns about roads in the area which were labelled as “totally unsuitable” when the proposals were at the consultation stages.

Access will be via a new roundabout at the junction of Minterne Avenue, College Road and Riddles Road, near the Beauty of Bath pub.

The Inspector sees the new layout as an “improvement” and added there was “no reason to refuse the appeal on highway grounds”.

However, Cllr Mike Baldock (Swale Inds) who represents Borden and Grove Park on the council, says the development will bring no benefits to residents living in the area.

The deputy council leader and chair of the planning committee added: “It's the location, to start off with, it is ludicrous as it was not part of the Local Plan and will affect my residents in Borden as Riddles Road connects to the two wards.

“With the homes will come around 700 extra cars on the road in an already congested road network due to school runs in the area.

“Adding to that is that it will close the countryside corridor further, which is there to protect smaller settlements.

“It also brings nothing to the people who are already living here. It is just homes and does not include amenities to support the local area.”