Concerned residents are rallying against a developer’s latest attempt to roll out an “obscene” housing estate on farmland.

Following decades of unsuccessful applications for the site, Gladman is seeking approval to build 120 homes on land north of Popes Lane in Sturry.

But residents say the area’s agricultural land is too precious, and the surrounding road network is already overburdened with traffic.

Sturry and Broad Oak Residents Association chair, Peta Boucher, says the land is not the best place for more houses.

“It will take way more agricultural land, which we need; we are facing a shortage of areas to grow crops,” said Ms Boucher, who has lived in the area for 12 years.

“The farmer wants to sell [the land] to make a bit of money - fair enough. But we’ve got houses that have been built that are empty.

“We are of the opinion that unless the council can do something about the horrendous build-up of traffic getting into Canterbury, they can’t just keep allowing houses to be built.”

The Sturry Link Road - a £40 million project to connect the A291 Sturry Hill to midway down the A28 Sturry Road - is hoped to ease congestion around the area.

But years after the scheme was first proposed, work to construct the bypass is not expected to begin until April 2026.

In papers submitted to Canterbury City Council (CCC), the developer says 30% of the homes will be affordable and include some bungalows.

The estate would also include two children’s play areas, a picnic area and allotments.

Two new ponds and a wildflower meadow will “provide space for ecological enhancement and help to achieve a net-gain in biodiversity,” say the plans.

The 23-acre plot has attracted developers’ attention for many years, beginning in 1997, when plans for 88 homes were rejected.

Developer Bryant Homes Weald attempted to overturn the decision, but later withdrew its appeal to the government’s Planning Inspectorate.

In 2018, Gladman Developments tried its hand at building on the site, putting forward an outline planning application for up to 140 homes that attracted almost 70 objections.

CCC refused the scheme, saying it would be a “significant development outside the village confines of Sturry”, and “would result in a loss of best and most versatile agricultural land”.

The authority also cited local traffic concerns.

Gladman appealed the decision, but the Planning Inspectorate upheld the authority’s decision.

Yet undeterred, the developer lodged a new outline application for up to 120 homes on the site in September 2023.

Debating the scheme in a residents’ Facebook group, Mick Harris asked: “How many more times have we got to keep on objecting to this obscene development and destruction of agricultural land?”

Tracey Baker added: “They won't be happy until there's no green space left.”

Local ward councillor, Harry McKenzie, who sits on the planning committee, said: “I’ve got a lot of very concerned residents who I’m listening to.

“I’m still reviewing the evidence and will make my decision when the time comes.”

CCC’s planning committee will rule on the application on June 18.

Find out about planning applications that affect you by visiting the Public Notice Portal.

The area’s other councillor, Keji Moses, declined to comment.