A controversial housing development has been given the go-ahead despite fears over traffic chaos near a school.

After two years of planning battles, a 25-home development in School Lane, Newington, was given the green light following intervention from the Secretary of State.

The proposals include 20 school staff car parking spaces and a further 20 spaces for school pick-ups and drop-offs.

Of the 25 homes ten will be affordable, 15 market rate, nine detached houses, ten semi-detached as well as six terraced.

Developers Fernham Homes launched an appeal to the Sectary of State after Swale council’s planning committee rejected the plans for 25 homes back in June and before that in October 2022.

On Thursday, the department overturned the council’s decision to help pave the way for builders to begin work.

Speaking after the decision, Cllr Richard Palmer, who represents Newington for Swale Borough Council, called the situation “appalling”.

He also believes extra traffic from the development will cause “chaos” in the area, which is near Newington CoE primary School.

“The location of the development is totally inappropriate due to the nature of the roads that it will be connected by,” the Swale Independents Alliance member said.

“With 25 new homes, we can expect at least 50 more cars on the roads which become flooded during the winter months.

“I fear that now this application is going ahead more houses and developments will come to our village.”

It comes after 135 homes were approved on appeal Pond Farm, despite traffic and air quality fears in August.

Concerns were also raised by Swale council when they rejected the plans on the grounds that the development would have “an urbanising impact” outside the built-up area of the village.

The council added that the new homes would be “harmful to the character, appearance, and intrinsic amenity value of the countryside”.

Inspector Paul Griffiths, who approved the appeal agreed with the council that the land west of School Lane “must be considered part of the open countryside” and so “inhibits development”.

However, Mr Griffiths pointed to Swales council's inability to demonstrate a “sufficient” amount of development sites for a minimum of five years’ worth of housing.

The planning inspector said this would mean “permission should be granted unless any adverse impacts of doing so would significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits”.

Mr Griffiths explained that “the proposal would bring forward benefits”.

He added: “The car park will be a significant improvement over the rather chaotic situation due to the use of the existing hardstanding.

“The scheme also includes improvements to School Lane, secured by condition, that deal with existing pinch points near the school, and provide for a footpath that will allow pedestrians to walk in more safety along School Lane in the vicinity of the school.

“The very limited adverse impact of the proposal is nowhere near sufficient to significantly and demonstrably outweigh the multiple benefits of the proposal.”