Plans for 2,500 homes on Green Belt land west of Bobbing look set to clear a major hurdle after Swale Borough Council officers recommended granting outline planning permission. The scheme, put forward by Foxchurch (Kent) Ltd, would transform 488 acres of farmland near Sittingbourne into a new neighbourhood complete with a primary school, sports hub and commercial employment zone.
The application was first lodged in 2018 and registered in November 2022, with a target decision date of 10 July 2026. The site has since been earmarked as a potential strategic housing allocation in the council’s emerging Local Plan. A Section 106 agreement would secure 875 affordable homes at a 60/40 tenure split, along with £600,000 towards local swimming pool upgrades and the resurfacing of Bobbing Village Hall car park.
Opposition remains fierce. Upchurch Parish Council warned of frequent gridlock and danger to pedestrians and horse riders, describing narrow rural roads becoming a rat run as drivers try to escape A2 congestion. Councillor Richard Palmer called for outright refusal, saying “the harms are clear, immediate and lasting and outweigh claimed benefits which are uncertain and heavily dependent on infrastructure that may not arrive in time or at all.” A campaign group, Communities Against Bobbing Expansion (CABE), has formed to fight the plans.
Despite those objections, both Kent County Council Highways and National Highways have raised no objection, and Southern Water has confirmed it can reinforce the network to serve the new homes. The application was deferred in March 2026 to resolve concerns over foul water disposal and open space management, but officers are now satisfied the issues have been addressed.
A Regulation 19 public consultation on the council’s Local Plan, which includes this site as a potential strategic allocation, is scheduled for the third quarter of 2026. Residents can make representations on the plan through the council’s consultation portal.
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