AN EXTRA 800 houses will be built in the Ashford area over the next seven years, Housing and Planning Minister Keith Hill has announced.

The original Kent Structure Plan, which aims to achieve sustainable growth in the Ashford area, set a target of 7,100 to be built between 2001 and 2011. Mr Hill has updated the plan raising the target to 7,900 for the same period – 30 per cent of which should be affordable.

The revision also calls for 5,900 new jobs for the area between 2001 and 2011 and a further 5,200 houses and 4,400 jobs between 2011 and 2016.

Mr Hill said: "Ashford is both a centre for regional economic development and the gateway to Europe. Growth must bring real benefits to the whole community.

"The alterations I am publishing today will not only support the projected growth in housing and jobs in Ashford, but will guide this growth in a sustainable way.”

A new plan is being drafted, for which there will be a public enquiry in September.