The next stage of a 675-home estate in the countryside looks set to be approved, despite neighbours’ fears for the welfare of nearby badgers.

The massive development at Wises Lane in Borden, near Sittingbourne, was approved by the government’s Planning Inspectorate in April 2021.

Full planning permission for the site, dubbed Applegate Park, was given for 80 homes, and outline permission was granted for up to 595 more, as well as a primary school, and commercial space.

Outline planning applications mean the principle of development is approved, but further applications are needed to confirm the finer details and design.

Since April 2021, full permission has been granted for the spine roads, earthworks for the primary school, a new Sittingbourne Rugby Club site and pitches, and 209 of the homes.

At Swale council’s planning committee this Thursday (November 6), councillors are set to decide on the details of 160 more of the homes, dubbed phases three and four.

“Phases three and four comprise the eastern-most residential parcels as well as adjacent open space infrastructure,” planning documents submitted on behalf of developers Redrow and Barratt say.

They say the site is almost eight hectares “of generally flat agricultural land with no notable physical features.”

Only 19 units of affordable housing are proposed at this section of the development, but 36 have already been agreed, and Swale council documents say phases five and six must deliver a further 26.

Of the affordable homes on this newest phase, 90% will be at affordable rent, and the remaining 10% sold under shared ownership schemes.

The developers stress the plans “would deliver market and affordable housing that responds to the site, reflects the needs within the borough, and a level of affordable housing that will secure the delivery of this highly sustainable site.”

Swale council planning officers are recommending that members vote to approve the plans this week.

Residents and local organisations, however, are not as enthused.

Many fear the impact of the development on local wildlife, particularly badgers.

Advice from Kent County Council’s (KCC) ecology team has said houses at the new development should have badger-proof fencing.

They also say they “acknowledge that landscaping with badger-friendly planting is proposed, which is likely to benefit the population in the long run.”

One resident wrote: “Blocking badgers out from an area that has been their territory for so very many decades is totally against the current policy of our nature-friendly government.”

They continued: ”The current plan to build right up to nature's doorsteps and then block them off from entering the development is wholly unethical and, frankly, damnably disgusting if, in this day and age, planners cannot design something less crassly damaging to what remains of our precious local habitats.”

“Too much habitat has already been lost to this development and badger setts have been closed and destroyed by it.”

KCC’s ecology report says there are no badger setts in the site to be built on, but there is a possibility of one being established and “commuting/foraging” occurring in the area.

As such, one of the conditions set to be imposed on the developers requires that an update badger survey is undertaken before work commences.

Another wrote in to argue: “This site has completely destroyed the area.”

Swale council’s planning committee will decide on the application at a planning committee tomorrow (Thursday), at the authority’s East Street offices in Sittingbourne.

A spokesperson for Barratt Redrow said: “We completed a badger survey in March 2025, which found no setts are currently present on this land. We have always complied with the planning conditions for Applegate Park which require us to update these badger surveys prior to any works starting on site.

“We also include badger-proof fencing across the development at a surface level, and all works undertaken comply with the requirements of Natural England.

“Once complete, Applegate Park will deliver three acres of green open space, including community allotments, bee friendly planting and three biodiversity areas for nature to thrive.

“The development will also include an onsite rugby club and dedicated sports pitches, alongside land for a new primary school. Additionally, more than £1m will be contributed to the local economy as part of our S106 agreement, including towards local schools, healthcare and infrastructure.”