Horsmonden residents raise concerns as Persimmon’s 120-home Bassetts Farm scheme gets green light

Plans for 120 new homes at Bassetts Farm in Horsmonden have been approved by Tunbridge Wells Borough Council, despite strong local opposition from villagers concerned about the scale of the development and its impact on local services.

The scheme, brought forward by Persimmon Homes South East, will be built on land off Goudhurst Road. It includes a mix of private and affordable housing, public open space, allotments, ecological improvements, sustainable drainage and land set aside for a possible new medical centre. The application reference is 24/00078/HYBRID.

Persimmon has welcomed the decision, describing the development as an “exciting” and “beautiful” scheme for the village. The housebuilder says the homes will be zero-carbon ready, with air-source heat pumps and solar panels. It also says more than 65 per cent of the site will be kept as public open space, with a planned biodiversity net gain and new community facilities.

However, the approval has not been welcomed by everyone locally. The application attracted more than 220 letters of objection, with residents raising concerns about traffic, pressure on schools, access to doctors, drainage, sewage, light pollution and the wider impact on the rural character of Horsmonden.

One of the strongest local concerns is that the village could change too quickly and become more like a small town, without the public transport, medical provision or infrastructure needed to support that growth. Residents have also questioned whether the scale of the scheme is right for a village setting, especially in an area known for orchards, oast houses and countryside views.

Under the approved plans, 48 of the 120 homes will be affordable, including homes for shared ownership and below-market rent. Persimmon says this will help meet local housing need, particularly for young families and first-time buyers who want to remain in the area. The developer has also said it will offer a Local Homes Guarantee, reserving 50 per cent of private homes for local people for six months.

The development will also include financial contributions towards local services and infrastructure. These include funding towards a new village hall, education, healthcare, highways and other community needs. Persimmon says the total package of contributions will be worth more than £2.1 million.

Martin Crick, Managing Director of Persimmon Homes South East, said the company was “extremely proud” of the scheme and pleased to receive councillors’ approval. He said the development would provide attractive new homes, support local housing need and deliver green space and land for a new medical centre.

The site has already had a long planning history. Persimmon previously brought forward a larger proposal for 163 homes, but that was withdrawn. The latest approved scheme is smaller, at 120 homes, although many residents still feel it is too large for Horsmonden.

There was also controversy during the planning process after two orchard areas, which had been expected to be retained as part of a community orchard, were cleared. Persimmon apologised for this and said replacement mature apple trees would be planted.

Supporters of the scheme will point to the affordable housing, open space, zero-carbon-ready design and potential medical centre land. Opponents will argue that the issue is not just the design of the houses, but whether Horsmonden has the roads, buses, school places, GP access and infrastructure to absorb another major housing development.

For now, councillors have given the scheme the green light, subject to the required legal agreements and planning conditions. But the debate around Bassetts Farm shows the wider tension facing many Kent villages: how to deliver new homes while protecting rural character and making sure local services keep up.