Plans for a coffee shop, offices and homes on agricultural land in Wye have been refused by council officers.

The proposed development of Sidelands Farm in Little Olantigh Road - which would have been similar to Evegate Business Park in Smeeth - was branded 'unsustainable' in a planning meeting earlier this month.

The committee agreed with the officer's recommendation to refuse the development - which involves demolition of existing farmland buildings used by the former Wye College - on environmental grounds.

A full planning application submitted to Ashford Borough Council (ABC) in February detailed plans for the new business park, including the demolition of existing farmland buildings and construction of flexible office space and a coffee shop.

Two residential dwellings and 63 car parking spaces were also proposed.

Speaking at a council meeting last week, applicant Malcolm Gomez said: "With an exception of the parish council, there is no one speaking against these plans.

"The site is sustainably located given its proximity to Wye and I believe that we should be looking if this brownfield site can generate employment as it clearly has done in the past.

"It will be a small residential and commercial development. We want people passing this site to see a clear and well designed development."

Praising the plans, council leader Gerry Clarkson said: "I was surprised to find the conclusion was to refuse. Looking at the scenario we have there now which is unsightly I thought these plans were encouraging.

"I have not seen many houses in the countryside that are unsustainable and empty small businesses.

"I thought it looked attractive and it is a good use of a site. It is not a large development, I think it could be useful in this area."

But not all committee members shared the council leader's view, as Cllr Paul Clokie slammed the design of the homes, branding them "horrid".

Cllr Jessamy Blanford said suggestions it could become a business park similar to Evegate were very unlikely due to the location of the site.

Ward member Cllr Noel Ovenden proposed a motion to refuse the development as the majority of committee members concluded that a narrow road and the remote location would make a small business park unsustainable.

The Ashford Independent councillor said: "This site is an unsustainable location and my proposal is to follow the officer’s advice to refuse.

"We are not talking about a brownfield site - we are dealing with agricultural land. This site is located on a very tight road, the road leading up two vehicles cannot pass each other and lorries struggle to get up it.

"The neighbourhood plan was built on a walkable village concept. I understand what the applicant has tried to achieve with this but I cannot see how this provides direct benefit to the neighbourhood plan.

"It goes against the views of most of the people in the village and I think we should respect their views and refuse this application."

Last month, a petition to overturn plans to convert a historic 15th century college into homes was launched by villagers after ABC approved plans for 13 houses, 28 flats and 90 car parking spaces to be built at the former Wye College site.

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