Plans have been put forward to build 104 homes on a farm near Maidstone.

House-builder Fernham has applied to Maidstone Borough Council seeking permission for a 'village hub' in Sutton Valence, which would also include a shop.

The plans are for a seven-hectare site at Haven Farm off North Road.

A number of agricultural buildings would have to be demolished and the existing entrance would be retained as a pedestrian-only access to the new homes.

A new road for vehicle access would be created off North Street.

A second part of the hybrid applications seeks outline planning permission for a doctors' surgery and for five self-build plots.

Fernham is not proposing to build the doctors' surgery, but says it will lay on the necessary infrastructure to the plot before selling the land on for £1 to a medical practice.

The company has suggested that the Sutton Valence Group Practice, which currently operates from two sites in the village, would be interested in co-locating onto the one new site.

The scheme would include 40% affordable housing (41 homes), some as apartment blocks. The private homes would be largely two-storey.

A new toucan crossing over North Street would aid residents to access the village, and villagers to access the surgery.

To view and comment on the application click here and search for reference 22/504692.

So far there has been little public reaction to the plan, but Neil Aldridge of Forge Lane, Headcorn, said traffic from the proposed development would find it difficult to exit the site onto the A274 because of the frequent and fast-flowing volume of traffic.