Developer wants to build 400 homes on former landfill site in Kent
Villagers claim their home "already as busy as central London"
Plans for 400 homes on a former landfill have been submitted despite villagers claiming their home is now “as busy as central London”.
Developers PMG Regeneration originally mooted proposals for new homes on the Biffa site in Greenhithe in November last year.
Leaflets were sent to residents seeing their views on the possible development – with the developers initially proposing 376 homes on the site south of London Road.
But in April, the developers submitted an outline planning application to Dartford council for up to 400 homes.
The waste site sits next to Knockhall Chase and Mounts Road and has been left empty since the mid 1990s.
The developers say that homes have been earmarked on the site for years.
“The site has been consistently promoted for residential development of between 300 and 500 homes since 2007,” they said.
Of the homes proposed, 35% – or 140 of the 400 – are set to be marketed as “affordable housing”.
The site had been a chalk, sand and gravel quarry since at least 1863, and then was later turned into a landfill, but stopped being filled in 1990.
“The site is well served by means of public transport such as the local bus network and the Fastrack with bus stops located along London Road and Mounts Road,” planning documents submitted by the developers read.
“The development would utilise previously developed land to create a modest and contained extension within Greenhithe to accommodate the Borough’s growing housing needs.”
However, some residents aren’t enthused about the proposals, with 18 having written in to object.
“Greenhithe used to be a lovely little village, now it’s become as busy as central London, it seems every little piece of land you can possibly build on, it’s built on,” wrote one villager.
“Yes we need more houses but this area is swamped already,” added another.
“The roads are awful, parking is terrible and the traffic is dreadful as it is.”
Several of the objections cite the continued closure of the A226 Galley Hill Road in Swanscombe as a reason for concern.
That road has been shut since a cliff collapse over two years ago, causing major traffic problems in Swanscombe and the surrounding area.
“No repair in sight for Galley Hill – disgraceful,” wrote one objector.
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It is not yet known when Dartford council’s planning committee will decide on the bid, but an internal target deadline of August 1 has been set.
As an outline planning application, the bid seeks approval for the principle of development on the site.
If it were approved, further plans would be needed in the future to confirm the exact layout and design of the estate.