Dozens of protesters are opposing plans for a housing estate on the edge of their village, saying it will create a “concrete jungle” in the countryside.

Catesby Estates wants to build 120 homes at the western edge of Headcorn, near Maidstone.

The developer argues the site is suitable to help the borough meet its housing targets.

In a planning statement it added: “We are striving to create a high-quality residential development on the western fringe of Headcorn.”

It adds the bid will “provide a new piece of open space that will benefit not only the residents of the development but the neighbouring areas in Headcorn.”

Children’s play areas, tree planting and new footpaths are set to be included in the project.

However, residents aren’t as enthusiastic, with 48 writing in to Maidstone council’s planning department to speak their mind.

“The land itself and Moat Road regularly floods which causes major disruption and building on this bit of land would only make matters far worse,” wrote Deano English.

“The infrastructure in this village can not take anymore new housing estates. As many people have stated the doctors, school and dentists are at full capacity.”

Mr English added: “Me and my wife moved here for a better quality of life and fresh air, we do not want another concrete jungle being constructed at the bottom of our garden.”

The site is about the size of 10 football pitches.

Of the 120 homes, 48 are to be affordable, with their design set to be “indistinguishable from the market housing.”

“Our once small, and lovely village is expanding on all sides at an alarming rate...”

“Headcorn is quickly becoming a town,” wrote Caroline Kingsnorth.

“The extra traffic flow and extra pollution will make our peaceful village no different to the noisy towns nearby,” she added.

Headcorn is earmarked to take 275 new homes across the village in Maidstone council Local Plan review - which sets out planning policies and proposals for development for the coming years.

Lizzy Crofts wrote in to say that 120 new homes seemed “an excessive number for a village the size of Headcorn.”

She added: “Our once small, and lovely village is expanding on all sides at an alarming rate which would be fine, if the local facilities supported this.”

Headcorn Parish Council is also opposed to the development, fearing strained infrastructure and locals being priced out.

“We have had ‘hosepipe bans’ in the South East for years now,” a spokesman said.

“They are now being joined by unplanned water outages where the water pipes provision can no longer cope during the summer.

“An extra 120 houses is going to further stress an overworked system.

“This development is simply the wrong thing in the wrong place and would have no benefit to the village or its current residents.

“The houses would be at a price point to attract people downsizing from London which puts them out of the reach of local people and young families wanting a house in their home village.”

It is not yet known when Maidstone’s planning committee will decide on the bid, but a deadline of April 2024 has been set.