A highly controversial application for a huge housing development in Cranbrook has been unanimously opposed by the parish council.

A packed meeting last week saw Cranbrook and Sissinghurst Parish Council recommend the 180-home proposal be refused by Tunbridge Wells Borough Council.

Initially the council’s Planning & Preservation Management Committee backed the scheme for four fields at Brick Kiln Farm off High Street but did a U-turn after reflecting on the number of issues with the Persimmon Homes South East plan.

Cllr Alison Bunyan, chairman of the committee, said the main problem with the application is its failure to incorporate neighbouring Corn Hall, which is owned by a different developer.

Together the plots, which are to the south of the town, are earmarked for up to 300 homes and Cllr Bunyan said they are intrinsically linked.

After hearing these views and the objections of dozens of parishioners, the council concluded any future application should encompass both sites with co-operation ensured between the developers.

It added the plans should include smaller homes, be of a higher quality design sympathetic to the site’s surroundings and feature transport and parking assessments.

Among the most contentious issues with the application is the location of the site. It sits within the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and next to the Cranbrook Conservation Area and is 200 metres from a nature reserve.

Despite this the Cranbrook Conservation Area Advisory Committee has offered no objection providing the scheme is sensitive to the area and the parish council is resigned to the site being built on.

Cllr Bunyan added the parish council cannot determine if development goes ahead but can question the quality of the plans.

The application for the 30-acre plot can be viewed here and will now go in front of borough council’s planning committee from late July.