A developer has submitted plans to build 290 homes on a village orchard.

Hallam Land Management has identified a site covering 27.5 hectares – the equivalent of the size of 25 football pitches – at Ufton Court Farm, Borden, south of Sittingbourne.

But the company said that it would only build on 37% of the land, leaving the rest as green space that would include a community orchard, play area and drainage pond.

The land is currently used as a commercial orchard. Some 87 homes would be designated as “affordable” and none would be more than 2.5 storeys high.

Access would be via a new roundabout created on Minterne Avenue at its junction with Riddles Road.

Although the site is not identified for development in Swale’s Local Plan, the developer argues this is irrelevant, since the borough cannot show it has a five-year supply of land for house-building – a government requirement.

Swale council admits it has only 4.6 years supply currently. Hallam Land estimates it at nearer 3.95 years.

In many respects the site is suitable for development: there are no listed buildings or conservation areas, no newts, no protected trees and it is at a low risk of flooding.

However, it is part of the land identified as forming the settlement gap between Sittingbourne, Tunstall and Borden, and it may be home to badgers.

It also contains top quality agricultural land.

In addition, it is a reserved location for possible mineral development as it is rich in brick earth.

The company held a 13-day online public consultation on its proposals back in November after leafleting 590 neighbouring homes.

It received 188 responses from the public, with the vast majority concerned at the overloading of local facilities, the effect of increased traffic, and loss of farming land.

There were no comments supporting the proposal.

The application has been submitted over the Christmas period and the deadline for responses would normally expire on January 9 but Borden Parish Council has asked for an extension until January 20.

For more click here and search for reference 22/505646.

Hallam Land Management is calling the proposal site Ufton Green.

The firm is also building 300 homes at Perry Court Farm in Faversham.