Members of the Save Capel campaign group have voted overwhelmingly to back an alternative housing development over plans for a garden village at Tudeley.

Following a recommendation from its executive committee, 95% of the group's members voted to support a development at Castle Hill - provided Tunbridge Wells council dropped the inclusion of the Tudeley Garden Village from its draft Local Plan.

The new site still falls with in the parish of Capel, but in an area that Save Capel believes will be more sustainable, putting less traffic on narrow roads, and it is also for fewer houses.

The new proposal is for up to 1,600 homes as opposed to the 2,800 scheduled for Tudeley.

The group also hopes that by proving they are ready to accept some development and are not just "Nimbys" opposed to everything, it will strengthen their case in fighting another aspect of the Tunbridge Wells Local Plan which is to place around 1,500 homes in the east of the parish.

The Castle Hill alternative is on the Tunbridge Wells side of the A21 and is being promoted by a consortium of landowners and an (as yet unnamed) established housing developer.

The Castle Hill proposal, adjacent to the North Farm industrial estate, would cover 113 hectares, compared with the Tudeley plan which extends over 170 hectares.

However, there is a downside. The Castle Hill site is within an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Information about the Castle Hill plan can be found here.

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