Three new homes with five bedrooms and 15 parking spaces could soon be built on land currently part of a vicarage in Cranbrook.

The Diocese of Canterbury, which owns the land on Waterloo Road, has submitted a planning application that would involve taking away part of the garden, for St Dunstan's Church, to make way for the dwellings.

Since the plans were validated last month, Cllr Lee Hatcher from Cranbrook and Sissinghurst Parish Council says the timing is poor as people are preoccupied with lockdown.

Cllr Hatcher is now calling for people's voices to be heard despite the pandemic as he feels this could be a huge loss for the community.

He said: "I feel if I don't share the application, it will go by unnoticed because with lockdown, people have other things high on their list of priorities.

"Whether they support it or not, I want people to have their say because if we don't, planners will just assume that locals are completely fine with it.

"Many large and small applications are still going forward and Government, national and local, seem to be encouraging this. Despite the fact that effective consultation has been almost impossible, despite the fact that parish councils and other consultees are having to analyse these via Zoom.

"The houses are simply not what Cranbrook needs. They're not affordable by a long shot and will take away more green space and more than half of the vicar's back garden.

"If we don't comment or object, this sort of application will be decided by civil servants at TWBC rather than elected officials and will likely be rubber stamped as this land was allocated in the last Local Plan.

"The more people who comment, the more likely it is it will have to come before elected representatives and that's why I've stuck my head above the parapet."

Building on this land has been on the council's radar for many years. It was first included in the Local Plan in 2006 and then re-affirmed in the site allocations 10 years later.

As it stands, the site has been allocated for four dwellings. However, the applicant says it has given a great deal of time and attention to the character of the site and feels the new proposals for three homes offer the best configuration.

This will involve knocking down the existing conservatory and detached garage along with alterations to the garden.

The plans are clear the existing house currently occupied by Rev Ann Pollington will not be impacted.

Rev Pollington has lived in the vicarage for five years. She first came to Cranbrook in October 2015 after eight and a half years in Hertfordshire.

The vicar, who is originally from Uckfield, has been holding regular services in her garden now earmarked for the dwellings.

The vicarage is a place which can be opened to the public at any time for meetings and events in the community. If some of the land were to be sold, Cllr Hatcher says future events could be made more difficult with less space and additional neighbours.

Giving her personal view, Rev Pollington said: "As a resident in Cranbrook I feel what the town does not need is more five bedroom houses. What it needs is two bedroom houses. Young people grow up here and they can't afford any houses and so they have to move elsewhere. Then people from other areas move in for a little while before moving out again so you lose the sense of community.

"It's not the case that the vicar and the diocese are against each other. The diocese is very respectful of my views and knows that I wouldn't be happy with the idea. I also respect that a decision has to be made.

"This process started before I moved so I know they need to keep the ball rolling. It will still take time and I don't think it will happen while I'm here."

Anna Drew, a Diocese of Canterbury spokesperson says the church has put a great deal of thought into the sale and feels the development will not impact gardens use as a community space.

She said: “As a church, our priority is supporting ministry and service for our local communities – something that has become even more important during the pandemic. As with any charity, the work we do needs to be properly resourced for it to be effective. That’s why we always try to make the most of the resources available to us – sometimes, by selling land or property that is no longer needed, so that money can be released to support and enhance our local ministry. We understand the concerns of local residents and would encourage them to make their views known through the planning process."

Similar anger over the timing of a planning application was also felt in Cranbrook when 168 homes earmarked for Hartley Road in Turnden were discussed in April.

Resident and former cabinet office director Carl Meewezen, expressed concerns villagers were not given enough time to examine updated plans for a housing development because of coronavirus restrictions.

Despite concerns, the Government’s chief planning officer has made it clear councils should continue to determine planning applications.

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