Uni presses on with 2,000-home plan after backlash

The University of Kent said it will pursue controversial plans for a large housing development despite more than 3,000 objections.

The university put forward land north of its campus for development as part of Canterbury City Council's (CCC) draft Local Plan 'call for sites' process in 2024.

The 2,000-home proposal led to the creation of the Save the Blean campaign, which handed over a petition with 3,126 signatures opposing the scheme.

The council has since excluded the land from its draft Local Plan, citing concerns about the technical feasibility of building in the area, which makes future approval less likely.

UKC is challenging the removal from the Local Plan, which is now out for consultation, and plans to try to get the homes built even without council support, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

John Duffy, UKC's chief operating officer, told protesters: "These are our communities and we've always recognised that.

We do recognise the strength of feeling that people have in the local area.

"We still believe that for social and economic reasons, the northern land holdings represent something that is in the interests of the Canterbury community and in the interests of the university."

The petition describes the "irreversible damage this development will cause to the local environment, cultural heritage and wildlife".

Duffield, who has supported the campaign and presented the petition, described the university's response as "really disappointing".

"Despite the fact that this bit of the Local Plan was removed by the city council, the university is determined to still carry it on.

"This just feels like it wouldn't serve the community in any way.

"It would remove our green spaces, and it's not houses that local people can actually even afford or need."

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