A new image has been released and shows the masterplan for the first phase of the divisive Otterpool Park development.

The aerial view CGI reveals how the new homes will be laid out on land near Hythe, plus the trees and green spaces which will surround them.

It also includes the lake, currently found at the vacant Folkestone racecourse, which is destined to be the 'heart' of the proposed garden town and will be available for public swimming and fishing.

The image has been released alongside an announcement that two public virtual consultations will take place next week, giving residents the chance to learn more about phase one of the project, which will include the town centre.

It will be held by the team from Otterpool Park LLP - a company set up to 'drive' the development forward - and will include a presentation about the scheme and a question and answer session from panellists.

The event, on Friday, March 26, will also give people an opportunity to share their thoughts on the plans, which will be considered ahead of final proposals.

There will be an online afternoon session running from 1pm until 2.30pm and an evening session from 5.30pm until 7pm, all open to the public who can register to attend at phaseone.otterpoolpark.org/

The engagements will be recorded and published on the Otterpool Park website, so that those that are unable to attend can watch it at a later date and provide their feedback.

If approved, Otterpool Park will eventually include 10,000 homes, new schools, green spaces, health centres, retail and leisure facilities and will have its own town centre.

Folkestone and Hythe District Council (FHDC) is behind the project and has already invested millions of pounds.

This includes purchasing the land at the racecourse, which closed in 2012 and is near the village of Westenhanger, for £25million.

The authority also purchased Westenhanger Castle for £2.9m, which is set to become the 'centrepiece' of the scheme.

They also spent £5m buying 357 acres of farmland south east of the racecourse in 2015.

And in November 2019, FHDC approved a £100m loan to allow the first stages of Otterpool to proceed.

But the scheme has received much opposition since it was first announced in 2016, including more than 100 objections, two protests and an official objection from Hythe Town Council.

Outline planning application for the project was submitted in 2019 and, if approved, the scheme is planned to be built in phases over the next 30 years.

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