Residents in a small village have branded a proposed housing development as “excessive and unsustainable.”

Horsmonden villagers say an application from Persimmon Homes to build 120 homes at Bassetts Farm, to the east of the village, coupled with another application for 49 homes recently built out, and a third that has outline permission for 68 homes, will cause an expansion of the village by more than 50%.

Concerned neighbours have formed the Bassetts Farm Forum to fight the plans.

Spokesman Andy Winser said: “This latest application blatantly ignores the policies set out in the adopted Horsmonden Neighbourhood Plan.

“We are not opposed to the development of this allocated site in principle, but if elected councillors allow this non-compliant application to pass simply because borough housing land is in short supply, it will be a betrayal of local democracy, planning principles, and the people of Horsmonden.

“Furthermore, it could open the floodgates for unchecked and inappropriate development everywhere.”

Persimmon wants to build 72 market homes and 48 affordable homes on the 15.7-hectare plot. It also proposes setting aside land in the northwest corner for a medical centre, although it is not proposing to build it.

The site is allocated for housing in the emerging Tunbridge Wells Local Plan, but Horsmonden Parish Council has described the land as “a tranquil undeveloped orchard landscape on the edge of the village in the setting of the National Landscape (formally known as AONB).”

The parish was critical that the proposal was partially outside the limits-to-built-development for Horsmonden and did not sit well with the existing village in terms of housing density or building design.

The Bassetts Farm Forum agreed saying the application was a “flagrant disregard” for the design policies within the Neighbourhood Plan.

The forum also alleged that the proposed emergency access route to the development was “dangerous,” as it followed a single-track lane with blind corners.

Mr Winser said: “People just want an honest, well-designed application. Instead, we feel we are ignored by both TWBC planning officers and by Persimmon, who just don’t appear to be concerned about the impact on the village.

The village has already seen a recent development of 49 homes built at Gibbet Lane in Horsmonden and Rosconn Strategic Land gained outline permission in July 2023 for 68 homes at Brenchley Road.

Mr Winser said: “The 2021 census showed that the central village (as opposed to the wider parish) had 1,580 residents in 656 homes.

“Persimmon has already been granted permission for a separate development of 20 homes at Bassetts Farm, so together the new developments are likely to result in our having 2,338 residents - a 47% increase.”

“That will lead to pressure on the infrastructure, on the village crossroads, and on parking in the village which is already difficult.

“There very few bus links to Tunbridge Wells and none to Paddock Wood.”

“How will we accommodate all these new residents and still retain our sense of community?”

The borough council has received 261 letters of objection to the scheme, although many residents have written in more than once, and some half a dozen times, as the plans have undergone several amendments during their evolution.

However, Tunbridge Wells Borough Council (TWBC) does not have an up-to-date Local Plan and can’t demonstrate that it has a five-year housing supply.

In such circumstances, the government says the balance should be tilted in favour of allowing development.

Mr Winser said: “TWBC’s failure to adopt a Local Plan should not mean developers have free rein to ignore planning policies.

“If this application is approved, it will set a dangerous precedent, allowing developers to dictate the future of rural communities without accountability.”

Conservative Tom Mobbs is the local ward councillor. He said: “Tunbridge Wells Borough Council has experienced a 62% increase in local housing needs following the change in National Government.

“It is acknowledged that rural villages, such as Horsmonden, must contribute to meeting this demand.

“However, it is crucial that large-scale developments align with Neighbourhood Plans and engage with local bodies, including parish councils, to protect the heritage and character of these villages.

“If a strong precedent is not established, future applications could gradually erode the unique qualities of these communities.”

Persimmon said its development would provide much-needed housing, including 40% social housing.

It would include more than six hectares of public open space, with part of the existing orchard retained as a community orchard.

Land would be provided for a doctors’ surgery, local footpaths would be improved and there would be a biodiversity net gain of 10%.

Find out about planning applications that affect you at the Public Notice Portal.

Details of the Persimmon application can be found on the Tunbridge Wells council website, under application reference number 24/00078.