New 100-Home Development Proposed Near Hadlow Village

Plans have emerged for a new residential estate consisting of 100 homes on the outskirts of Hadlow, a village in Kent. Developers, led by Redrow, assert that the project will include 50 affordable homes aimed at addressing the severe shortage of below-market housing options in the area. However, local residents express concerns over the potential strain on already stretched community services.

The proposal was submitted to Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council (TMBC) in July 2023. The estate is planned to be located off Carpenter’s Lane and The Paddock, occupying a site approximately the size of seven football pitches at the northwestern edge of the village. According to the developers, “The site lies within the green belt but is positioned adjacent to the Hadlow settlement boundary, flanked by post-war public housing schemes to the south and the Hadlow Village Hall to the east.”

The development aims to provide a balance of housing options, with the affordable segment consisting of 22 two-bedroom, 18 three-bedroom, six four-bedroom, and four one-bedroom homes. The overall design will accommodate a range from one-bedroom flats to five-bedroom family residences, centered around a public green space.

Redrow projects that the construction phase will inject approximately £50 million into the local economy. This includes the creation of 81 direct jobs and 27 indirect jobs. Construction hours are proposed to be regulated, with work scheduled from 08:00 to 18:00 on weekdays, 08:00 to 13:00 on Saturdays, and no work on Sundays or public holidays.

Local sentiment towards the project, however, is mixed. Caroline Anderson, chairwoman of the village hall committee, organized a public meeting earlier this month that attracted around 70 residents. She expressed significant concerns, stating, “We are very concerned about the fact that Hadlow seems to be targeted for housing, along with East Peckham and Hildenborough. We can’t cope with the traffic; we don’t have very many doctors, dentists, schools, or nurseries.”

Anderson emphasized the mismatch between the proposed affordable housing and local needs, questioning whether the homes would genuinely be accessible for young residents. “This is Hadlow, this is Kent. Is anything affordable for young people?” she asked, voicing skepticism about the developers’ claims that homes would be offered to Hadlow residents first.

The fate of the proposal now rests with the planning committee of TMBC, which has set a target deadline of November 4, 2023, for a decision. Community members await further developments as they consider the implications of this substantial housing project on their village.