The thorny issue of where to build new housing is to be the focus of two large pieces of work by Swale council.

At the end of April, landowners and developers will be asked by the council to put forward sites large enough to accommodate 'garden communities' of between 2,500 and 10,000-plus homes.

The potential for huge new developments, which would mark a significant change in the authority's current policy, comes as planners say it is "highly likely" the borough's house-building target will increase from 776 a year to more than 1,000, due to pressure from the government.

Swale has been guided by a firm of consultants, Peter Brett Associates, which concluded that constructing larger developments, effectively new villages, would be one way of solving the problem.

To that end, the council has drawn up a 'New Garden Communities Prospectus' to "gauge the appetite" for such large-scale building among developers and landowners.

It stresses that no decision has been made on whether the policy will be pursued but admits it is a "serious step" towards it.

Interested parties will have six weeks to submit ideas and a further 10 weeks to provide more detailed plans.

At the same time, the general public will be asked for their opinion on what should be built and where.

The council is proposing to publish 'Looking Ahead' on or around April 20. The 45-page document lists 40 questions on what the council describes as "fairly high level issues", with topics ranging from affordable housing to air quality. A questionnaire is also planned.

The main rationale behind the consultation is to find out what people think about where homes should be built.

A report for the council's Local Development Framework Panel, which discussed both documents last week, said: "Whilst heavily emphasising the early stage of plan preparation and council thought, the opportunity is taken to canvass views on the potential locations for development, including new settlements and, specifically, 'garden' settlements."

Comments must be received by June 4 and will be used to shape policy before further work on a new local plan.

The council could come up with its preferred approach by summer next year – setting out the choices available for development across the borough.

Details of both documents are due to be confirmed shortly.