Client: Galliard Homes
Sector: Residential
Location: Ashford
Ward: Ashford Borough Council
Status: Planning
Location and Context
Situated 3 miles from Ashford High Street, the Toke Farm development is located between the suburbs of Great Chart and Chilmington Green on a 0.98-hectare site. This site benefits from excellent connectivity to the surrounding area, with direct links to the M20, providing access to Folkestone, Maidstone, and the M25. The site is characterised by its proximity to a varied architectural landscape, with a mix of Kentish farmstead vernacular, contemporary townhouses, and traditional countryside homes. Notably, the site lies adjacent to Minden Cottage, a Grade II listed building, although a landscaped buffer ensures significant separation and minimal impact on this historic structure.
Design and Development
The development proposal involves the construction of 15 residential dwellings, including associated access, parking, landscaping, and open space. This revised plan responds to feedback from a previous planning application and reduces the number of units from 18 to 15, achieving a density more suited to the local area. The layout has been thoughtfully designed to reflect the rural character of the surroundings, with an organic flow through the site that enhances place-making and wayfinding.
A key design feature of the proposal is the avoidance of linear and regular housing layouts. Instead, the development embraces clusters of dwellings, echoing the traditional farmsteads typical of the Kentish countryside. This approach promotes a sense of rural development and strengthens the place-making quality of the site. The dwellings are varied in size and design, resulting in an eclectic yet cohesive street scene, unified by a curated palette of materials drawn from the local vernacular.
Landscaping and Amenity Spaces
Landscaping is integral to the development, with significant green spaces and buffer zones enhancing the rural feel of the site. A landscaped green space, including a pond, is proposed at the far eastern end of the site. This area not only offers varied outdoor amenities for residents but also interacts with the Sustainable Drainage System (SuDS) feature on the neighbouring site, fostering a sense of cohesion between the two developments.
The design ensures that all units have sufficient parking, achieved through private drives and car barns, which maintain the rural aesthetic while avoiding on-street parking. Refuse storage is discreetly located at the rear of each dwelling, with clear access to kerbside pickup.
Integration and Community
The development aims to create a well-integrated and well-designed community that contributes positively to the local area. The reduction in the number of units allows for more varied and spacious layouts, enhancing the living experience for residents while ensuring that the development remains sympathetic to its surroundings. The placement of dwellings around several nodes throughout the site ensures well-supervised areas, further reflecting the traditional clusters of farmsteads and avoiding an overly urbanised feel.
Sustainability and Planning
The provision of 15 mixed-size units aligns with local and national policy, addressing the housing needs of the area. The development has been informed by a thorough assessment of the site, considering planning opportunities and constraints, and is supported by a series of technical reports. The design principles underlying the proposal focus on enhancing the character of the site, maximising the use of local amenities, and mitigating any impact on adjacent properties and nearby roads.
The Toke Farm development represents an exciting opportunity to deliver a well-designed, sustainable residential scheme in Ashford. By respecting the local vernacular and integrating seamlessly with the surrounding landscape, this proposal offers a compelling planning balance in favour of development. The scheme promises to be a valuable and sympathetic addition to the area, contributing positively to the housing and land supply mix while enhancing the character of the local community.
