Ashford squares up to government over growth area building targets

Ashford council has agreed to plan for 31,000 new homes over the next 30 years – if the government puts up money for infrastructure.

But earlier this month housing minister Keith Hill spoke publicly about Ashford's potential to take up to 42,000 new homes – 11,000 more than the council agreed to in consultation with local people.

Ashford council spokesman Adrian Westwood said: "We are the planning authority and if we say 'no', it doesn't go ahead.

We are working towards 31,000 – that's what the deputy prime minister has agreed to."

In 2002, Ashford council commissioned a wide-ranging report into Ashford's future. It set out three options for growth: to stay at current levels, to accelerate to 31,000 new homes over 30 years or to increase to 42,000 new homes over 30 years.

After extensive consultation, the council agreed to recommend 31,000 homes and it thought the government had concurred.

But in a speech at an event organised by Westbury Homes in Dartford on 4 September, Keith Hill referred to 42,000 new homes.

An ODPM spokesman said an interim target of 10,000 homes has been set for 2016. The department has agreed to a guideline figure of 31,000 homes by 2031 but maintains that Ashford has the potential to take up to 42,000.

The spokesman said: "The decision will be made over time. We need to be sure we are getting the right numbers on the ground – we don't want to be too prescriptive."

Mike Gwilliam, head of planning and transport at the South-East England Regional Assembly, said: "The rate has not been agreed yet. To say 42,000 would be very premature. All that can be said is that we will look at the post-2016 situation in due course."