A housing developer has prompted fury after it backtracked on its promise. (Image: Getty)
Work has already started on the development near Ashford in Kent. The first phase involves the 5,570-home Chilmington Green development.
Hodson was reported in Kent Online as pulling out of contributing more than £50mn worth of new infrastructure and community facilities, including £30m toward a major road improvement and a new school, library, and youth services.
The funding includes £30mn improvements to the A28 in Ashford.
Kent Online reported that the housebuilder, which is the Chilmington Green’s lead developer, signed a legally binding agreement – known as a Section 106 Agreement (S106) – in 2017. The agreement commits it to invest in local services and infrastructure.
Hodson also has permission to build another 665 houses on a nearby site, Possingham Farm.
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The developer has claimed that the current financial markets mean it can no longer afford the investment.
Locals are fuming over the decision, arguing that there is no shortage of homes in the area and that more needs to be done to secure more GP and school places.
A Kent County Council spokeswoman said it would defend the legal obligations placed on the developer by the local council, Ashford Borough Council.
They added that the county council was in contact with Hodson but would seek a public inquiry and court action if there was no resolution. The spokesperson said the council needed to prioritise the safety of residents, which included preventing the A28 from becoming permanently gridlocked.
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The next step in the process is for an inspector from the Planning Inspectorate to decide whether Hodson can back out of its promised funding commitment; an inquiry is scheduled to start on February 19, 2025.
The Telegraph reported that Hodson’s decision would also involve scrapping an entire primary school, £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.
Mail Online said 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 £2.5mn bus vouchers for local homeowners.
Hodson has been approached for comment.