Plans have been submitted to expand Hillberry Park in East Malling, adding 53 new lodges and facilities, including a swimming pool, reception, shop, offices, and changing rooms.
The application, filed by owner John Hilden, would extend the site over a 4.8-hectare field to the south of the existing park.
Hilden first established Hillberry Park in 2011 with 20 touring caravans. Since then, 11 planning applications have transformed the site into a lodge-based holiday park with 111 units. The proposed expansion would bring the total number of lodges to 164.
According to planning documents submitted by Lambe Planning and Design, the new development would focus on “luxury lodges” accessed through the existing road off Wateringbury Road.
The access road would be widened to 5.4 meters, with speed bumps added for safety. The lodges would be timber-clad or clad in a composite designed to resemble timber, and lighting would consist of low-level bollards switching off at 11 p.m.
The planning statement argues that the expansion will deliver economic benefits, estimating an additional £1.36 million annually into the local economy, or about £25,700 per lodge. Employment at the park is projected to rise from four to ten full-time staff.
Traffic remains a key point of contention. A transport assessment submitted with the plan estimates 131 additional daily vehicle movements, which it argues would be “imperceptible” compared to current traffic on Wateringbury Road.
The report also notes the site’s proximity to East Malling’s shops and train station, located 1.6 kilometers away, suggesting some visitors could walk or cycle. To accommodate guests, 97 extra parking spaces are proposed.
Some local residents and officials remain concerned about the cumulative effect of nearby developments. Cllr David Thornewell (Lib Dem) said: “Certainly the extra traffic on Wateringbury is something that will cause concerns for local residents.”
Frances Saunders, a member of Residents Against Development of Ivy Farm (RADIF), expressed doubts about the traffic analysis.
“This latest application may be for holiday homes, but it will still generate extra traffic on Wateringbury Road,” she told KentOnline.
“An analysis of the traffic movements for 52 houses at Ivy Farm suggested it would lead to 100,000 extra traffic movements a year. I don’t see why traffic from 53 holiday lodges would be significantly different.”
She also noted the lack of pavements on the route to East Malling and raised concerns about air quality in Wateringbury, where the Tonbridge Road junction has already been designated an Air Quality Management Area. “It is the culminative effect that matters,” Saunders said.
For outdoor hospitality professionals, the proposed expansion reflects ongoing demand for lodge-based holiday accommodation and the sector’s increasing focus on high-end facilities.
The application also highlights common planning challenges facing operators, particularly balancing economic benefits with community concerns about infrastructure and environmental impact.