Frustrated residents say developers are having a “feeding frenzy” in their village after plans for a further 739 homes were approved.

Dover District Council’s (DDC) planning committee met on Wednesday evening to discuss two neighbouring schemes in Whitfield.

Pentland Homes’ outline application for 309 houses northwest of Archers Court Road – including 93 affordable units – was backed by eight votes to one.

Members then voted eight in favour, with one abstention, of developer Danescroft’s hybrid bid for 430 homes south of Church Whitfield Road.

Both schemes were recommended for approval by planning officers and sit within DDC’s Local Plan.

They also feature in the authority’s ‘core strategy’ document, published in 2010, which earmarked Whitfield for a “managed urban expansion” totalling 5,750 homes.

But during the meeting, Jeff Goodsell, chairman of Whitfield Parish Council, urged refusal or tighter controls.

“It’s become a bit of a feeding frenzy, with developers hungry for early profits and DDC keen to have more Section 106 contributions in their pot,” he said.

Section 106 agreements are arrangements between developers and the council that are negotiated as part of a condition of planning permission.

They include contributions to help pay for infrastructure needed to support the new development.

Plans for Pentland’s 34.3-acre site – roughly 20 football pitches – drew six objections from residents, while Danescroft’s 36-acre proposal, which includes 30% affordable housing, attracted 35.

Danescroft was seeking full consent for 88 homes with detailed designs, and outline permission for the remaining 342.

This means further reserved-matters applications will follow now the outline has been confirmed.

Speaking on behalf of both applicants, Matthew Woodhead of DHA Planning stressed the schemes are part of the Whitfield allocation in the adopted Local Plan and have been shaped by almost two years of discussions with planning officers.

He highlighted multimillion-pound Section 106 contributions including for the Fastrack bus link.

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But raising concerns at the meeting, Cllr Roger Knight (Con), added: “These applications should not be brought before us this evening.

“It is far too soon and out of agreed phasing.

“The applications lack detail, and whilst I accept this is outline, there are too many unanswered questions as to the layout, the infrastructure and the long-term effect on the village.”

But speaking before the meeting, Cllr James Back (Con) had acknowledged that refusal would likely trigger costly appeals, noting only one resident had raised a buffer-zone concern.

“As far as refusing is concerned, there’s not much we can do,” he said.