The Church is facing a huge backlash over plans to build 23 homes between an A-road and ancient woodland.

Canterbury Diocesan Enterprises Limited, The Diocese of Canterbury’s property arm, wants to erect 23 properties on a 3.6-acre site off the A28 in St Michaels, near Tenterden.

If approved by Ashford Borough Council (ABC), the homes will be erected next to a 62-bed care home which the authority green-lit in 2021.

The Church says the homes will “make a positive contribution” to the area and will be of the “highest possible design quality”.

But residents fear the development will turn the A28 into "even more of a nightmare".

Self-employed florist Heather Trumble, who grew up in the area but now lives in Cranbrook, worries Tenterden is "being completely overdeveloped".

"The A28 is always bunged up and more houses are not going to help that," she said.

"I have a great love for Tenterden but it has become overrun with housing.

"They say there will be affordable housing, but I bet the starting price for a two-bed will be more than £350,000.”

The site sits directly between the A28 and a section of the ancient Dawbourne Wood.

Out of the 23 proposed homes, 11 would be two-bed properties, with five three-bed, four four-bed and three five-bed.

But Cllr Pam Smith, who represents the St Michaels ward on Tenterden Town Council, says she is also concerned about the impact on the A28.

“My main concern is the added traffic on the main road, especially in the position that it is in," she said.

“The development would be quite near to St Michaels Primary School and that could be dangerous when people are pulling out onto the busy road.

"Obviously, affordable housing is needed in the area, but it depends on what they call affordable."

In a statement, a spokesman for The Diocese of Canterbury said the proposal “would deliver much-needed family homes including nine affordable homes”.

“The scheme also includes a new access point to the A28, associated parking, play/amenity spaces and a trim trail,” they said.

“The scheme would make a positive contribution to built development in St Michaels...”

“Normal pre-application discussions were held with Kent Highways and the access design and highway layout has passed a formal safety audit.

“With ancient woodland to the south and east the scheme incorporates 15-metre buffer zones alongside the respective boundaries.

“This land would be held in trust to avoid future encroachment.

“The scheme would make a positive contribution to built development in St Michaels by including a layout and individual house types to high design quality standards.

“The proposals have also been designed to safeguard and enhance the biodiversity of the site, following extensive surveys."