300-home housing scheme at Development Site Northern Fields Bull Lane Eccles Aylesford

The site and its surroundings

The nine-hectare site was mainly agricultural land in the countryside, close to Eccles and Aylesford, with geological, mineral, ecological and landscape designations nearby.

“Planning Committee - Part 1 Public Date 16 September 2026 3.3 The site is within the countryside and is classified as a Regionally Important Geological Site (RIGS). The south of the site falls within Source Protection Zone 3 and a Minerals Safeguarding Area. The site is also within a 250-metre buffer of Minerals and Waste Safeguarded facilities. The site is approximately 220 metres south of the existing village of Eccles and 430 metres from Aylesford Village.”

“To the south is also Aylesford Sand Pit site, now known as Aylesford Lakes, with the east lake. Aylesford Lakes has planning permission (TM/22/01909/OA) for a later living community comprising up to 250 age-restricted dwellings (Class C3), up to 191 extra care houses and apartments (Class C2) with associated community facilities within a central hub building, an 80 bed care home (Class C2), a new facility for the local Scouts, green infrastructure and open space and accesses…”

Officer report

Why officers recommended approval

Officers considered the site sustainable and found that housing, the link road, improved connections and other benefits outweighed the identified environmental and landscape effects.

“Planning Committee - Part 1 Public Date 16 September 2026 of the NPPF are considered strong benefits of the development to be weighed in the planning balance. Social Objective 7.44 In terms of location, the site is located adjacent to the existing approved settlement confines of Eccles, comprising of residential development, a school and other services. The site is not considered ‘isolated’ for the purposes of the NPPF.”

“It would be possible to walk or cycle to nearby local services and facilities and once development triggers have been met for developer contributions, travel by an improved bus service. The first phase of the link road is a particular benefit, which once delivered in full shall enable traffic to avoid travelling via Aylesford Village, therefore reducing traffic queuing in the area.”

Officer report

Who spoke to the committee

The agent representing the applicant addressed the committee in person.

The vote and decision

Members voted ten to two to grant outline permission, subject to the legal agreement, revised water and drainage conditions and an additional pedestrian-connection informative.

“It was proposed by Councillor Thornewell and seconded by Councillor Palmer (Chair) that planning permission be granted in accordance with the recommendation, subject to the additional Informative and the revised potable water and foul drainage conditions. Following a vote of ten in favour and two against, the Committee…”

Minutes