A small village could grow by 120 homes and get a new medical centre under new plans.

Developers Persimmon have lodged plans with Tunbridge Wells council for 120 homes, a health hub and a community orchard at Bassetts Farm, to the east of Horsmonden.

They had initially applied for planning permission for up to 163 homes at the site just off Goudhurst Road in January 2023.

However, the plans were scaled back following “feedback from statutory consultees and residents”.

The original application attracted more than 150 letters from the public.

The location is earmarked for up to 165 homes in the local authority’s draft local plan, and the area to be developed is the size of almost 30 football pitches.

Of the 120 homes planned, 48 of them will be earmarked as affordable, with homes ranging from two to five bedrooms.

The site for the estate is just outside the High Weald Area Of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and east of the former Hop Pickers Railway Line.

From 1892 until 1961 the historic railway line connected several rural Weald settlements important to local hop growing - Paddock Wood, Horsmonden, Goudhurst, Cranbrook and Hawkhurst.

The line got its nickname ‘Hop Pickers Railway Line’ from its use by Londoners travelling down to the Weald for hop-picking holidays.

As part of the development, the site will include land reserved for a medical centre - but another firm will have to come forward to provide it.

Part of the site is also earmarked by Persimmon for allotments and an expansion of Horsmonden Primary School.

“The proposals will include a significant amount of public open space, comprising around 68% of the overall site area,” documents supporting the development state

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It is not yet known when the council’s planning committee will decide on the planning application.