Swale's house-building target should be 776 a year up until 2031, a whopping 200-plus more than originally planned.

That's the finding of planning inspector Sue Turner who has told Swale council it must increase its proposed level of 540 per annum for its long-term development plan to be sound.

Council officers set out to defend its homes total during eight days of hearings spread between November and December but failed to convince her.

The interim report, published today, says the council is in a position to "sensitively nudge the housing target upwards across the borough so that growth continues to be focused on the Thames Gateway area (Sittingbourne and Sheppey), but with proportional boost to allocations in Faversham and the rural areas".

She said the council had shown there were sufficient sites available to build 13,000 homes between 2014/15 and 2031, concluding: "The council should therefore proceed to allocate sites to meet a revised target of 776 dwellings pa."

Cllr Gerry Lewin (Con), cabinet member for planning, said: "The outcome of the initial findings are, as far as we are concerned, as acceptable as they can be.

"Whilst we were trying to defend a position of 540 houses per annum she has come back and said I think you should settle on 776.

"We must put that into context - there were members of the building industry who argued we should be building 900 if not 1,200 per annum."

The council's task of finding land for the extra homes would be frustrating for many people, admitted Cllr Lewin, but he stressed there would be consultation with residents.

Labour group leader on Swale, Cllr Roger Truelove, said council officers had faced an impossible task to defend the 540 figure, particularly as the council's own independent report suggested demand would dictate more than 700 homes a year were required.

He warned: "Since the inspector rejects the idea of this shortfall being disproportionately assigned to Faversham, sites in Sittingbourne and Sheppey will come into the reckoning.

"This may mean Bartons Hill Drive in Minster and Cryalls Lane in Sittingbourne.

"Our fear is that more site allocations will not mean more houses but an enhanced opportunity for developers to pick the most viable sites.

"In these circumstances, the enormous North West Sittingbourne proposal is certain to go ahead and possibly even increase in density."