An application for 134 homes has been granted approval despite claims it is “tantamount to vandalism” and will pile further pressure on already strained village services.

Medway Council’s planning committee decided in favour of the Esquire Developments Ltd proposals at a meeting last night (March 12).

The application involved three parcels of land on Stoke Road, Hoo, and will see 29 two-bed, 77 three-bed and 18 four-bed homes and ten one-bed flats, as well as a nursery, community hub with a cafe, and commercial units.

It is on both agricultural land and partially the location of the former Sturdee Sports and Social Club.

Concerns were raised by councillors about the increased pressure on local services, but others argued the proposals involved £2.4 million of developer contributions which would go towards improving local infrastructure.

An attempt to defer the decision in order for councillors to undergo a site visit was made but defeated, with committee chair Cllr Chrissy Stamp (Lab) saying members could not delay proceedings unnecessarily and other councillors saying deferment would incur further costs.

The three ward councillors for Hoo St Werburgh and High Halstow, Cllrs Ron Sands, George Crozer, and Michael Pearce (IndGr), argued against the development, saying it would destroy farmland, further strain local infrastructure, and did not suit the needs of the local community.

Cllr Crozer said: “My most pressing concern revolves around the fundamental issue of transport infrastructure capacity.

“In 2019, this council’s cabinet was presented with data which showed the A289/A228 operated at near full capacity.

“Strategic planning at that time indicated we could bring forward only approximately 1000 homes on the Hoo Peninsula before major infrastructure improvements were required.

“Since that assessment, a further 1568 development schemes have been granted or built on the Hoo Peninsula.

“We must prioritise the well-being of our existing community — we cannot continue to burden already strained infrastructure and exacerbate issues identified by this council itself.”

Cllr Pearce said with the growing number of homes permitted to be built on Stoke Road, the council should ask the developers to build a needed primary school near the site.

And Cllr Sands added: “The destruction of Stoke Road of Hoo is tantamount to vandalism, all on the altar of unsustainable developments in this headlong rush to meet unachievable housing numbers set by successive governments.”

But other councillors argued the development could contribute to the community.

Cllr Douglas Hamandishe (Lab) said the retail spaces included in the proposals would create jobs for local people.

He said: “Hoo’s heritage requires people to have meaningful employment, people shouldn’t always have to travel out of Hoo for work and this is what this development offers.”

Cllr Adrian Gulvin (Con) said although the authority needs to meet housing targets, even without them the committee could happily support the scheme.

He said: “We can vote for this without the thought of having the government’s big stick waggling over us.

“The 134 units will make a good contribution to our target, but the developer has a track-record of developing good quality schemes across Medway and should have a much shorter build out time.

“There’s a good mix of housing sizes which will meet local needs. Although I accept some of the arguments put forward by local councillors, the balance of this application is firmly on the side of it being approved.

“It will be a good development for Hoo, particularly with the commercial units which are currently not available in the vicinity, and the increase in population will make existing businesses more sustainable.”

Committee chair Cllr Chrissy Stamp (Lab) said: “We have housing targets but that’s not to say we should approve everything that comes before us.

“I like this because there’s a good mix of homes, they’re providing open space, a café and community hub, commercial space, a nursery and the applicant has a reputation for building good quality homes.”

The application, along with the conditions for £2.4m in developer contributions, was approved with 11 votes for and three against.