Developers have given up on their bid to build 220 homes in Boughton Lane.

Ward Homes had wanted to develop the playing fields of New Line Learning Academy, raising fierce opposition.

The scheme was first rejected by Maidstone council and then at appeal, but the applicants challenged this in the High Court.

It won the right for a second planning inquiry due in October.

But Maidstone’s Local Plan inspector strongly condemned the proposal as unsound and Kent County Council vowed to fight the appeal because of congestion it would cause on Loose Road.

Wards planning agents, DHA, announced the appeal had been officially withdrawn.

Sean Carter, chairman of North Loose Residents Association (NLRA) which opposed the scheme said: “We had already started work preparing our case for the six-day appeal hearing, so this is huge burden lifted from our shoulders.”

NLRA is continuing to gather evidence of traffic flows in the area. Volunteers are needed to help with a traffic count around The Swan junction on Monday, April 24. Contact Mr Carter on 07946 302824.