Natural England has told a council if it approves plans for a housing development, it will call in the application to the Secretary of State.

The environmental organisation objects to plans for 168 homes to be built at Turnden in Cranbrook.

It argues they would have a "major adverse impact" in the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).

Berkeley Homes originally secured permission to build 36 homes along Hartley Road in February last year, which sparked "widespread concern" in residents.

The environmental impact and deficiencies in the social infrastructure they would create were just some problems highlighted.

Then in April, the developer introduced separate plans for 168 properties.

Residents have since asked for more time to consider the plans due to lockdown, and Cranbrook and Sissinghurst Parish Council have objected to the development.

However, it is down to Tunbridge Wells Borough Council to decide whether the homes get approval, and a discussion date is yet to be decided.

But Natural England is clearly opposed to the idea.

In a letter to the council, it says "given the size and scale" of the proposal and "the harm it would cause to the High Weald" it is being considered as a "matter of national importance".

It goes on to say "if local authority should be minded to approve this development proposal, Natural England will consider it necessary to seek call-in of the application so that it can be determined by the Secretary of State."

According to the organisation, when it comes to AONB, "major developments should be refused unless exceptional circumstances can be demonstrated."

Natural England also highlights the proposal is not supported in the adopted local plan.

A draft local plan was published last year but the final version is not due to be submitted to government until July 2021.

When complete, the document will provide a framework for addressing housing needs and other economic, social and environmental priorities in the borough until 2026.

Natural England argues as the current policy is "out-of-date", certain developments, especially one of this scale, should not be approved, as they cannot be properly tested against the plan.

However, the public body says "this application may be more acceptable if its size and scale are significantly reduced".

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