A Sustainable
Location
There is currently a housing shortage in the local area, reflecting the national housing crisis which has been caused by decades of under delivery of new homes.
Our proposals represent a natural extension to Headcorn, helping to meet the local need for homes while providing extensive new green, open spaces for the local community to enjoy. The new homes will provide those wanting to stay in or move to Headcorn with high-quality and sustainable housing choices, alongside new community and sports facilities.
The site is currently agricultural land of limited ecological value. Our plans would create a range of new habitats and enhancements, delivering a Biodiversity Net Gain of at least 20% – leaving a positive impact for people and planet.
The Draft Masterplan
Space for sport and community life
The plans include 15 acres of land for new sports pitches and community facilities. We’re in discussions with Headcorn FC, who are part of the Headcorn Community Sports & Leisure Trust, about bringing forward a number of new sports pitches for a range of uses and changing room facilities. The current plan is that the land would be transferred to the Trust who would then manage the facilities for the community day-to-day.
This follows the conversations held by Headcorn FC with the wider community last year which showed strong demand for new sports facilities in the village. We’re still working on the finer details of the plans, and we’d really like to hear what you think.
Homes for all walks of life
Our proposals will deliver around 260 new homes with a range for every stage of life, including:
- 40% affordable homes for sale and rent, helping to meet local demand and give more people the opportunity to stay in Headcorn
- Starter homes for younger people and those looking to take their first step on the housing ladder
- Family homes with space to grow
Every home will be designed and built to modern standards, with energy efficiency and sustainability at their heart. All homes will be equipped with Electric Vehicle charging infrastructure and highly thermally efficient insulation. This means lower running costs for residents and a reduced impact on the environment.
Extensive green infrastructure
More than two-thirds of the site will be dedicated to green space, with meadows and orchards enhancing local habitats, as well as play areas. All of which will be open for new and existing residents to enjoy. The provision of extensive new green and blue spaces will deliver a Biodiversity Net Gain of at least 20% – meaning we’ll leave the planet and wildlife habitats in a better state than we found it.
New walking routes
The existing rights of way will be maintained and enhanced, with additional walking routes introduced to improve connections to the village and surrounding countryside, supporting the improved health and wellbeing of the community.
Key Considerations
As we develop the plans, we’ll be carrying out detailed assessments to ensure a future-proofed development that respects the surrounding area. This includes:
Ecology and landscape
As part of our extensive green infrastructure improvements, existing hedgerows and trees will be maintained wherever possible with additional planting to strengthen local habitats and create wildlife corridors.
A range of new habitats will be established across the development from ponds and rain gardens to woodland planting. These features will form part of a carefully designed Sustainable Drainage System (SuDS) to manage water naturally and prevent flooding.
Transport
We understand the importance of traffic and access to local people. We’ll be conducting a detailed Transport Assessment which will be submitted alongside the planning application. This work will look at traffic flows and how to provide links to public transport options.
The development will be served by two new priority-controlled T-junctions on Lenham Road. We’ve completed extensive junction modelling which confirms the new junctions will operate with minimal queues and delays.
There will also be pedestrian and cycle access from Lenham Road to the site, improving connections into the village.