A historic English market town has been plunged into chaos after the lead developer behind thousands of new builds went back on its promise to invest millions in local services and infrastructure.
People living in Ashford, Kent, have been left fuming after Hodson, the lead housebuilder behind a 6,000-home development, announced plans to pull £50million of funding for roads, schools and social care provisions.
Work has already started on the 5,570-home Chilmington Green development and the developer has had plans approved for another 665 new builds next door at Possingham Farm.
Although Hodson signed a legally binding contract known as a Section 106 Agreement with Kent County Council, the developer has now claimed such funding has ‘ceased to be possible in the financial markets’ and would be ‘prohibitively expensive and self-defeating’.
For many locals, their worst nightmare has come true after years of Hodson assuring them it would provide key infrastructure for the thousands of new homes on their doorstep.
Speaking to MailOnline, local James Charlton, 72, who has lived in Ashford all his life, said: ‘It’s terrible. The last thing this area needs is more housing. It’s awful.
‘Any developer granted permission should fulfil their obligations to provide all the services as well.
People living in Ashford, Kent, have been left fuming after Hodson, the lead housebuilder behind a 6,000-home development, announced plans to pull £50million of funding for roads, schools and social care provisions
Trevor Laker, 63, pictured, said Ashford had become a ‘rubbish’ place to live and more homes would make it worse
James Charlton, 72, pictured, who has lived in Ashford all his life, said: ‘It’s terrible. The last thing this area needs is more housing. It’s awful’
‘The idea they have threatened to pull them is terrible.’
Michael Ross, 76, has lived in Ashford for 50 years and described the move as ‘appalling’.
The retired building manager said: ‘I think developers think they can do what they want. The considerations of local people are never thought about. It’s dreadful.
‘It’s insanity to build thousands of new homes and not consider what infrastructure is needed as well. The idea they can threaten to pull them is very bad.
‘The needs of locals are always just an after thought. That’s really bad.
‘Public services will collapse. The roads are so busy as it is.
‘The area will just grind to a halt. Getting anywhere is already a nightmare.
‘There should be proper obligations in place to ensure these things are met.
‘Who do they think they are?’
Work started on the 5,570-home Chilmington Green development and the developer has had plans approved for another 665 new builds next door at Possingham Farm
Developer Hodson wants to ditch or alter 33 of its commitments in the original agreement.
Volunteer Philip Latinaki, 48, said: ‘I’ve never heard anyone locally say there is a shortage of homes in Ashford. It’s not on the agenda of locals, it might be for developers’
Volunteer Philip Latinaki, 48, described the move as ‘very annoying’.
He said: ‘I’ve never heard anyone locally say there is a shortage of homes in Ashford. It’s not on the agenda of locals, it might be for developers.
‘It’s real arrogance to suggest the infrastructure won’t be needed. There’s a real shortage of local things like schools. It’s a nightmare trying to get in and out of the town as it is.
‘They often say all these developments are affordable – but what is affordable housing these days.’
Trevor Laker, 63, said Ashford had become a ‘rubbish’ place to live and more homes would make it worse.
The digger driver said: ‘So much needs to improve here. It’s just neglected and over ran as it is. They build all these new houses and flats with no thought as to what that will do to the area.
‘Things like doctor’s appointments are like winning the lottery as it is.
‘Massive new developments will just make it worse.
Pictured: New building developments in the Chilmington Green area, Ashford
For many locals their worst nightmare has come true after years of Hodson assuring them it would provide key infrastructure for the thousands of new homes on their doorstep
Developer Hodson wants to ditch or alter 33 of its commitments in the original agreement
Under their new proposal it would save £50million by not building schools or contributing to social care and community projects
It would also like to save around £30million by not providing funding to turn the A28 into a dual carriageway, meaning the road would be unlikely to change at all
‘It upsets me.’
Developer Hodson wants to ditch or alter 33 of its commitments in the original agreement.
Under their new proposal it would save £50million by not building schools or contributing to social care and community projects.
It would also like to save around £30million by not providing funding to turn the A28 into a dual carriageway, meaning the road would be unlikely to change at all.
A KCC spokeswoman said: ‘The County Council as Local Highway Authority has a duty to protect the network from the negative impacts of traffic generated by new developments.
‘We will vigorously defend the legal obligations already placed upon this developer by Ashford Borough Council and ourselves to secure the necessary infrastructure to prevent the A28 from becoming permanently gridlocked.
‘We are currently in negotiations with Hodsons to find a way forward, but, if necessary, will contest the issue in a Public Inquiry and a court of law.’
Councillor Linda Harman, the portfolio holder for planning at ABC, echoed KCC’s sentiment and said ABC would ‘appeal robustly against the proposed changes’.
Councillor Linda Harman, the portfolio holder for planning at ABC, echoed KCC’s sentiment and said ABC would ‘appeal robustly against the proposed changes’
If the proposed changes are allowed, locals say it could place a huge burden on local services that are already struggling to cope with increased demand
In terms of funding for schools, Hodson wants to cut £14.9million of funding, including scrapping an entire primary school
She added: ‘We do not feel [the changes] will benefit local residents or [the] wider community of Ashford at all.
‘We want Chilmington Green to be the sustainable development it was planned to be, with all the community facilities intended, so we will make the case that the proposed amendments to the s106 agreement will only short-change residents.’
The next step in the process is for an inspector from the Planning Inspectorate to assess whether Hodson can back out of its promised funding.
That inquiry is scheduled to start on February 19, 2025, under the reference code APP/W2275/Q/23/3333923.
If the proposed changes are allowed, locals say it could place a huge burden on local services that are already struggling to cope with increased demand.
In terms of funding for schools, Hodson wants to cut £14.9million of funding, including scrapping an entire primary school.
It said this was justified as the development will only have 6,000 homes as opposed to the original plan for 7,000.
Hodson this was justified as the development will only have 6,000 homes as opposed to the original plan for 7,000
Work has already started on the 5,570-home Chilmington Green development, pictured
The developer also wants to cut £213,000 of adult learning funding, £900,000 of library funding and £239,000 from youth services.
It has also asked if it can not pay £5.62million towards road improvements that have already taken place in Ashford.
Other commitments it wants to alter include axing £800,000 worth of funding for a new graveyard, not contributing to footpaths and cycling routes and removing the provision of £2.5million of bus vouchers for local homeowners.
MailOnline has contacted Hodson Developments for comment.