Opposition to plans to create a 2,500-home garden village on an existing golf course in the greenbelt is mounting.

The proposal is part of a consultation released by Sevenoaks District Council as it prepares its next Local Plan, which will be known as Sevenoaks 2040.

It has been suggested that Pedham Place in Farningham, near Swanley, could be redeveloped as a new community, complete with its own shops, schools, doctors’ surgery and transport hub, as well as thousands of homes.

The idea is being promoted by Gladman Developments and the Ramac group, who argue that the location – which lies adjacent to the M25 and close to Swanley Railway Station – is the ideal spot for sustainable development.

They aim to create a “20-minute” community where residents will find everything they need – from work, schooling, and leisure – within a 20-minute walk of their homes.

But villagers in nearby Crockenhill, Farningham, and Eynsford, who would be most affected by the proposals, are up in arms.

Su Hewitt, one of those leading the campaign against the scheme, said: “Crockenhill only has 1,000 inhabitants. Imagine how they will feel having 2,500 homes – that’s maybe 10,000 extra people – dumped on their doorstep.”

The populations of Eynsford and Farningham are not much higher – at 1,675 and 1,277 respectively.

The site chosen for the garden village lies within the greenbelt, but Sevenoaks council has acknowledged it will have to sacrifice some land if it is to meet its Government-imposed housing target of building 10,000 new homes by 2040.

Sevenoaks has the third highest proportion of greenbelt within its boundaries of any local authority in the country (93%).

The promoters argue that not all greenbelt land has the same value and that Pedham Place is in a “poorly performing area”.

Opponents dispute this and now campaigners are seeking to secure their own legal opinion on the land’s status.

They have launched a Crowdfunding page to pay for the estimated £3,450 legal costs.

Mrs Hewitt encouraged people to donate here, saying: “If everyone who has signed up to support our campaign donated £5 we would achieve the figure instantly.”

Separate from the initial garden village suggestion has come a proposal from the Wasps Rugby Football Club to build a 28,000-seat stadium on the site, complete with a hotel, practice fields, changing rooms, and a players’ medical centre.

It is not clear from the Wasps’ proposals whether they think the stadium could be squeezed into the 144-hectare Pedham Place site along with the garden village or whether they see it as an alternative.

The Gladman and Ramac plans make no mention of the rugby stadium.

Wasps RFC are also promoting an adjacent site on the other side of the M25 at Petham Court Farm, for their stadium proposal.

Established in 1867, the club were a founding member of the Rugby Football Union and went on to win the premier title six times and the European Cup twice.

But in recent times the club has fallen into financial difficulties and went into administration in October 2022.

The assets and name were bought up by HALO22, a company owned by Christopher Holland, a previous non-executive director of the club, and since then a small team has been focused on building the recovery of the club and seeing its entry back into rugby league.

Originally based in London, they were more recently at High Wycombe and then Coventry.

Villagers seem equally opposed to the stadium idea – chiefly on highway grounds.

Resident Mark Keith said: “I support rugby, but not at this location. This junction on match days would be impossible to use for residents plus even if suitable car parks are built the visitors will park in local villages and walk in.”

However, the plans have some supporters.

Of 216 responses made to the public consultation so far in respect of Pedham Place, 164 have been in opposition, and 57 in support.

Dorothy Murray commented: “Pedham Place seems like a good idea, with a school and a health centre. It’s also close to a train station. It does not impede on the natural beauty of the area – it is close to a road and a dump. It is better this type of land is used for housing than remaining as a disused golf course.”

By “dump”, Mrs Murray is referring to the Swanley Household Waste Recycling Centre, which lies to the north of the Pedham Place site, on the other side of the A20.

While Matt Clay added: “The development will cause the least amount of disruption for existing communities and has great transport links.”

Louise Priestley said: “The only option for more housing is Pedham Place.”

Swanley Town Council has yet to reach a view on the proposals.

Chief executive Ryan Hayman said: “We will of course be submitting a response to the SDC local plan consultation, but cannot state what our response will be until it has been ratified by the full council.”

Pedham Place is currently home to a par-three golf course and is also used for car boot sales.

It was created in the 1990s, using sand, gravel and crushed stone displaced from the construction of Canary Wharf in London.

Sevenoaks District Council is hosting a drop-in session at Farningham Village Hall on Thursday, January 4, between 4.30pm and 7.30pm with staff on hand to explain the proposals.

The No Farningham New Town group (NOFNT) is also hosting two drop-in sessions of its own, both on Saturday, January 6, where help will be given to residents to make their response to the public consultation.

They will be at The Shand Hall in Farningham from 10am to 3pm and at Eynsford Parish Council Office from 9am to 11am.”

Further information can be found on the No to Farningham New Town Facebook page here. Or visit the Bees Not Wasps website, here.

To take part in the Sevenoaks council consultation, visit their website.

The deadline for responses is January 11.