Whitfield: Residents have hit out at plans to build 445 homes
Residents have hit out at plans to build homes near Dover - fearing their 'once beautiful' village would be destroyed
Concerned residents fear their “lovely” Kent village is being transformed into a town after a London developer unveiled plans for 445 homes.
Property company Danescroft argues a new estate sprawling the size of 20 football pitches in Whitfield near Dover will supply “beautiful” houses to meet soaring demand.
But the Camden firm’s hopes to build on land south of Church Whitfield Road have faced a backlash since a planning application was submitted three weeks ago.
Venting her views with Dover District Council, Simone Wigmore wrote:
“You are taking a lovely village and trying to turn it into a town.
“The roads are already chaos during school drop-off and pick-up times.
“Many people in the village chose to live here as it was quiet, has fields and woodlands to walk around.”
But Whitfield resident Marc Stanley stressed he is “bitterly disappointed” with the district council which, he claims, is behind a “constant push for development” without taking notice of residents’ views.
What does the council have to say?
Michael Gove MP said in December the council must meet “advisory” government housing targets unless it can provide “rigorous” evidence as to why it cannot do so.
The district council has now said it needs to meet those government housing targets and it'll decide on the plans later this year.
As the 357 homes are subject only to an outline application, their exact design and layout will be dealt with through later planning applications.