Campaigners trying to save a stretch of land from being bulldozed for more than 400 houses will learn if they have been successful by the end of the summer.

They say local people have been using Bunyards Farm, at Allington, near Maidstone, for leisure activities for decades.

Under the 2006 Commons Act, they must demonstrate the land has been accessed by residents for at least 20 years and that there were no signs prohibiting entry to it.

Legal protection preventing development can be granted by the inquiry inspector if granted “village green” status.

A four-day public inquiry looking into whether the 35 acre space can be granted legal protection from development finished on March 22.

Witnesses told the inspector that they had used the land for activities such as dog walking and picking berries and that there was no indication public use was prohibited.

Their claim was contested at the hearing, held at County Hall in Maidstone, by the landowner, the Andrew Cheale Will Trust and the developer BDW Trading Ltd.

Douglas Edwards KC, acting for the landowner, said the land was last used “intensively” in 1998 but has been used since for grazing and hay-making.

The land already has planning permission for 435 homes.

The inspector will review the application based on the evidence provided and it is understood the inspector’s report will not be available until well into the summer.

The report will then be submitted to Kent County Council’s regulation committee to either support or reject the application for village green status.

After the hearing, Duncan Edwards who led the application, said: “We need to be realistic that it’s going to be very tough to win this case against an experienced barrister (KC) supported by a leading London legal practice.

“Getting this land saved as a green space for posterity will be an amazing outcome based on when it was just an idea four years ago.”

Bunyards Farm is the last piece of undeveloped land around the Maidstone and Tonbridge and Malling boroughs’ border.