House-builder Bellway Kent is to make a final payment of more than £1 million to a local authority as part of a major residential development, with the money being used to improve a motorway junction.

The company will pay Maidstone Borough Council as part of its contributions for its development at Bicknor Wood in Otham.

It will bring the total contributions for the site, off Gore Court Road, to more than £6.3m.

Bellway is also behind new homes in Church Road, Otham - to be known as Parsonage Place. Almost £4m in infrastructure payments will be made over the course of that development.

Chris Moore, managing director of Bellway Kent, said: “We have now completed the last of the 250 homes at Bicknor Wood, having started work in 2018. Parsonage Place will bring another 421 high-quality homes to Otham.

“These developments exemplify how new homes can bring far wider benefits to communities. Our planning agreements ensure funding is in place to support the borough as new residents move in, enabling schools and other vital services to increase capacity.

“Beyond this, these two developments alone will lead to major junction improvements for key routes around Maidstone, including the M20."

Bellway paid more than £2.5m to the local authority before starting work at Bicknor Wood and a further £1.5m when the first homes were occupied. This was allocated for services including public transport, community learning, highways, libraries, healthcare, open spaces, primary and secondary education, public rights of way, social care, and youth services.

A payment of £1m which followed the 125th occupation, plus the money still to be paid, will fund improvements to Junction 7 of the M20.

Bellway will pay almost £2.8m to Maidstone council under the Community Infrastructure Levy under the terms of its planning agreement for Parsonage Place.

Local authorities can choose how to allocate this funding to meet the most pressing needs of the community. In addition, more than £1m will go towards primary education and £100,000 will help to fund cycle routes.