By GB News (World News) | Created at 2024-12-29 19:01:07 | Updated at 2025-01-01 17:41:59
2 days ago
Neighbours have been left fuming after a major housing developer is attempting to abandon £50million worth of promised infrastructure commitments for a 6,000-home development.
Hodson Developments wants to back out of its legally binding agreement to build schools, roads and social care facilities in Ashford, Kent.
The developer has claimed such funding has "ceased to be possible in the financial markets" and would be "prohibitively expensive and self-defeating".
Local authorities are now fighting to prevent the company from reneging on its Section 106 Agreement obligations.
Work has already begun on the Chilmington Green development, which will create 5,570 new homes in Ashford
Ashford Borough Council
The developer has also received approval for an additional 665 new builds at the adjacent Possingham Farm site
Urban Design Group
The developer also wants to withdraw £213,000 from adult learning, £900,000 from library funding, and £239,000 from youth services.
Plans to provide £2.5m in bus vouchers for local homeowners would also be scrapped.
The developer is also seeking to avoid paying £5.62m towards road improvements that have already been completed in Ashford.
An £800,000 commitment for a new graveyard would be abandoned, along with contributions to footpaths and cycling routes.
Local residents have expressed strong opposition to the developer's plans and warn these changes could overwhelm already struggling services.
One said: "It's terrible. The last thing this area needs is more housing. Any developer granted permission should fulfil their obligations", while a second called the move "appalling".
A third exclaimed: "It's insanity to build thousands of new homes and not consider what infrastructure is needed. Public services will collapse. The roads are so busy as it is."
Kent County Council has vowed to "vigorously defend" the legal obligations placed on the developer.
A KCC spokesperson said they have a duty to protect the network from negative impacts of traffic from new developments.
"We will contest the issue in a Public Inquiry and a court of law" if necessary, they added.
Councillor Linda Harman, planning portfolio holder at Ashford Borough Council, said they would "appeal robustly against the proposed changes".
She stressed they want Chilmington Green to remain "the sustainable development it was planned to be".
A Planning Inspectorate inquiry will assess whether Hodson can withdraw from its promised funding commitments.
