Client: Esquire Developments
Sector: Masterplanning
Location: Bethersden
Ward: Ashford Borough Council
Status: Planning
Outline application for a residential development, comprising of up to 40 new homes, associated parking, and generous open spaces on land adjacent to the Bull Inn, Bethersden, west of Ashford in Kent.
The site is located adjacent to the Bull Inn pub, between Bull Lane and Ashford Road in the southeastern part of the village of Bethersden, west of Ashford.
The area surrounding the site is characterised largely by agricultural land, with wooded boundaries defined by mature oaks, with pockets of residential development to the north forming the main part of the village.
The area surrounding the site comprises an eclectic mix of houses, of mixed age and with a palate of traditional materials and architectural style. They are for the most part detached or semi detached with features typical of the local farm-house vernacular.
The proposals have evolved in response to pre-application consultation with Ashford Borough Council Planning Officers and KCC Highways alongside public consultation.
The Site is not subject to any ecological or landscape designations. There are no identified Heritage Assets on the Site. The closest heritage asset is The Bull Inn located on the Site’s north-eastern boundary. The proposed development area is not in an area of flood risk, with only a small part of the proposed BNG Area falling within a flood zone.
The Illustrative proposal seeks to deliver a layout that is of a rural character, to reflect the site location at the southern edge of Bethersden.
The layout have been designed so as to maintain this rural feel whilst also providing ample gardens, verges and open space, access and parking on site.
The illustrative proposals are set out around rural lanes and farmstead style courts, with a soft edge overlooking the open space to the south.
These will be further softened by extensive existing and proposed boundary planting.
A landscaped buffer forms the boundaries to the north and west, retaining the landmark mature trees and screening the proposals from neighbouring dwellings and the surrounding countryside.
The setting of buildings such as the Bull Inn and other farmstead and barn dwellings is respected through a combination of strategic planting and screening as well as sensitive design utilising local materials and vernacular features.
A significant portion of the site to the east will be re-provided as public open space, with an extensive landscaping scheme to maintain and enhance existing trees and planting and maximising the biodiversity gain across the site.
The edge of the development facing over this open space will be designed in line with the village edge farmstead characteristics outlined in the local parish design guide.
