Plans for 68 homes and a new village hall have been approved.

Developers Rosconn Strategic Land lodged a bid for up to 68 homes and a new village hall in Horsmonden in January 2022.

In documents submitted to Tunbridge Wells Borough Council the scheme is described as “a high quality development which respects and compliments the existing character of the surrounding area and local village context.”

At a planning committee meeting on July 19, a council officer told members it was a sustainable development which would include 27 affordable homes.

The site, to the south of Brenchley Road and near Sprivers Wood, was described as “essentially open agricultural fields”.

Gary Mickleborough, an agent for the applicants, said at the meeting that the village hall would be “a terrific new community facility for the village, as well as associated parking space and a new play area.”

Seven people objected to the plans before the meeting and several residents attended the meeting to speak against it.

John Poor, who lives on Fromandez Drive adjacent to the site, told members that during heavy rainfall the village stream overflows and leads to flooding.

He said: “It won’t take the amount of surface water that drains off this site.

“Already, I’ve had a £7,000 insurance claim on my property in the last few years because we keep having major storm events.

“My 86-year-old neighbour has had to replace her kitchen floor because of surface water.

“What’s happening, I think, is the government wants a number of housing and letting sites like this which aren’t ideal just ticks a box for the quota that you need, but in this case you will be making the risk, which is already very high, ridiculously high to some very vulnerable people in Horsmonden.”

Robert Dicketts, who lives on Brenchley Road himself, attended to tell members of the “danger to pedestrians from speeding traffic” on the road which he said is already dangerous.

“Many of the residents myself included who’ve used the village hall over many years would access the village hall by foot,” said resident Amanda Chester.

“We have lots of elderly residents who no longer drive, I think it would be incredibly difficult for them to navigate an even busier Brenchley Road.

“People often drive in excess of the speed limit and I honestly believe this would be an accident waiting to happen.”

The development is an outline application - meaning that the exact details of layout and size at the site will be dealt with through future planning applications.

The council’s planning committee approved the bid with 11 votes in favour, one against, and no abstentions.