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Bobbing: Plans revealed for 2,500 homes

Plans have been revealed for a huge housing scheme which could see 2,500 homes built.

The huge parcel of land close to Bobbing, near Sittingbourne, will include a new primary school, village hall, three sports pitches and a health centre.

If given the go-ahead, it would mean 2,500 homes – of which 40% would be affordable – would be on both sides of the railway line on farmland, the Bobbing village side of the A249.

Cllr James Hunt, who represents The Meads, says Swale council is looking at plans for garden communities as part of the authority’s Local Plan, which says what can be built and where.

It would stretch from Sheppey Way across to Cold Harbour Lane to the north of the railway, and then behind Demelza House Children’s Hospice down to the A2, south of the railway.

The scheme is one of four plans, for new communities, which are being considered across the borough.

Plans for 2,500 new homes have been revealed. Picture: Swale council
Plans for 2,500 new homes have been revealed. Picture: Swale council

Two of these are in Faversham and the other is the 11,500 homes plan for the south-east of Sittingbourne.

Speaking about the proposals, Cllr Hunt said: “This agenda item is just an update to the panel and in no way means that the council has made up its mind on which land can come forward, or even whether garden communities is the way forward for housing developments in Swale.

"I wanted to bring this to residents’ attention now at an early stage," Cllr James Hunt

“Those decisions won’t be made until next year.”

He added: “I will be keeping an open mind as we go through the process but my initial view is that the land at Bobbing isn’t suitable for a garden community.

“The Local Plan is needing to be reviewed because of highway issues, especially around the A2 and A249.

“Any land that comes forward in the Bobbing area, on such a scale as this, would need some major highway upgrades, which I don’t think is likely.

Cllr James Hunt
Cllr James Hunt

“I wanted to bring this to residents’ attention now at an early stage, with an explanation on what the details are about, rather than anyone worrying that there is suddenly development coming forward.”

The scheme will be discussed by members at the Local Plan Panel at Swale House, in East Street, on Thursday, September 20.

It will start at 7pm.

To view the full agenda, visit tinyurl.com/BobbingCommunity

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