Detailed plans for a garden town of almost 6,000 homes have revealed how future phases of the development - including a full-size cricket pitch - will look.

A series of planning applications for Chilmington Green, on the outskirts of Ashford, have been submitted, with designs for hundreds of homes as well as a new public square and shops.

Initial outline planning permission for the 5,750-home community on land to the south west of Ashford was granted in 2014 despite opposition from people living locally.

Now developers are bringing forward their detailed visions for each of the smaller parcels of land which make up the site.

The latest reserved-matters applications put forward to Ashford Borough Council (ABC) for approval cover about 10% of the overall housing to be delivered at Chilmington Green.

One of the most significant parcels of land sits opposite the new Chilmington Green Primary School in Mock Lane.

Here there will be a new public square, bordered by four-storey buildings with residential properties on the levels above ground-floor commercial and retail units.

There will also be a supermarket, office space and a cafe in this portion of the development.

A design and access statement submitted in support of the plans says: "The applicants Hodson Developments are fully committed to a mixed-use district centre which will be the beating heart of the growing community at Chilmington Green."

Other parcels of land are purely residential, with the latest applications showing a range of housing from small studio apartments to five-bedroom detatched properties.

Plans have also been submitted for a full-size cricket pitch with associated multi-use sports pavilion, changing rooms and parking.

"The site facilities have been laid out to provide best conditions for cricket play and to create an attractive setting for the existing and proposed built form," the application states.

"The main facade of the pavilion faces south-east, creating clear views to the pitch for afternoon and evening play."

Backers of the overall vision for the new garden town include ABC, Kent County Council (KCC), Homes England and the developers.

ABC has described the project as one which seeks "to create a place of special character with a strong community feel".

But there has been outcry from upset residents of the phases already completed, with some saying they regret moving to the estate after scores of new-build homes were badly damaged during Storm Eunice in February 2022.

Several properties in the Chilmington Lakes part of the development had cladding ripped off by 80mph gusts which damaged cars, garages and gardens.

Resident Kendal Taylor said at the time: "They knew it was a windy area when they built the homes so they should have built them with that in mind."

Concerns were also raised ahead of the approval of the new Chilmington Green Secondary School which will serve the new community.

It was given the green light last summer despite objections based on what some described as the "lethal" local road network.

The school - which will eventually cater for more than 1,100 pupils - will be built in Chilmington Green Road off the A28 Ashford Road, which has become notorious for rush-hour traffic and uneven surfaces.

Speaking at a planning meeting in June, Cllr Linda Harman (Ashford Independent) described the Chilmington Green Road as "lethal" while Cllr Neil Shorter (Con) said: "I just want to reinforce the message that KCC Highways need to be absolutely sure the road width and surfaces can take the traffic.

"Having said that Chilmington Green Road is in a shocking state, it pitches and wallows all over the place.

"That road doesn’t lend itself to children biking to school."

A £26 million project to widen Chart Road to a dual-carriageway between the tank and Matalan roundabouts was due to begin in 2018 after scores of trees were felled.

But now it is understood the work will not take place until a certain number of homes at Chilmington Green are occupied.