A charity at the centre of controversy over plans for hundreds of new homes has stressed no deal has been made to sell its land.

The William Barrow’s Charity could sell Hooks Hole to developers Quinn Estates as part of proposals for 600-plus houses off Wises Lane and Cryalls Lane in Borden.

However, it this week confirmed there is no contract in place to sell after members of Borden Residents Against Development (BRAD) sent a letter to the organisation’s seven trustees, pleading with them to reconsider their stance.

Their plea follows the publication of a letter during last months’ hearings into Swale council’s Local Plan chaired by a planning inspector revealing the trust’s support for the development.

Concerns put to the trustees by BRAD included:

• The proposed development would have a detrimental effect on the lives of existing and future Borden residents.
• The charity, in its support for the scheme, mentioned factors outside of its remit such as the need for regeneration in Sittingbourne.
• If the development goes ahead, it would only make traffic issues in the area worse.
• Some of the content written by the charity in its letter of support sounds a lot like that written by Quinn Estates in its marketing material.
• The housing will not be affordable for local people.
• Selling off the land to the developers could enable the plans to go ahead, as it would be hard without that piece of land.
• Public support for the charity’s work has been “severely harmed” by the decision to support the development.
• The charity did not make its position public before offering its support to the developer.

In response, William Barrow chairman of the trustees Don Jordan said several letters from BRAD had been received and their contents and responses were being considered.

“However, it can be confirmed that there is no contract in place or agreement to sell the charity’s land,” he added.

He said the land had not been considered for inclusion at the recent Local Plan inspection as
it was not part of the original plans.

“If it is subsequently deemed necessary by Swale council that the proposed development requires an access road to the west, this will obviously be considered by the charity at the appropriate time.”