The village has recently been subject to multiple controversial housing schemes
The development would be built on the southern paddock land associated with Butlers Court Farm in Blean.(Image: Google Maps)
Plans have been submitted for 12 new homes in the village of Blean. Put forward to Canterbury City Council (CCC) by Goddard Planning, the scheme would take shape on the southern paddock land associated with Butlers Court Farm, located on the north-western edge of the village.
It would join a number of other recent housing developments and proposals, some of which have proven controversial. Plans for 85 homes on Blean Common were given the final green light in 2025, with work on the £40 million scheme now underway.
Meanwhile, proposals from the University of Kent for a huge 2,000-home estate continue to prove a major point of contention in the area. In October last year, acting vice-chancellor Professor Georgina Randsley de Moura wrote to campaigners confirming the institution was pressing on with the scheme on fields north of its city campus, even though the CCC had stripped the site from its draft Local Plan.
Additionally, approval has recently been granted on appeal for six detached dwellings on the existing Butlers Court Farm complex. This would involve the destruction of the existing industrial structures on the farm site, which will be replaced with three 1.5-storey properties, two 2.5-storey properties and one two-storey building.
Now, these latest plans seek to create a “low-density” development on the land south of Butlers Court Farm. The parcel of land is bound by a private driveway to the east, which connects the farm to the A290 and Blean Common, while Thimble Hall, a detached dwelling, lies immediately south of the site.
Access to the development would be from the east to maintain a direct link to the A290 via a driveway which would also service the aforementioned six-home development to the north. A 15m landscaped buffer margin would be created at the border with the registered ancient woodland.
The plans describe that existing ponds and trees within the development area would be retained, while various soft landscaping would be in place throughout. This application is just for the outline of the development, deciding the scope and access for the scheme, so details on the specifics on housing sizes are not confirmed at this stage.
The proposals add: “The design ethos is to create attractive and energy efficient homes of bespoke design, to enhance the character of the area and provide a tranquil environment for family life. The masterplan is landscape-led backed by ecological evidence, adopting a contemporary architectural approach to reference local materials, scale and rhythm rather than mimicry.”
These plans are awaiting a decision from CCC, which is expected to be given by Thursday, April 9. You can view the planning application in full through the online planning portal using reference CA/25/02343.
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