An MP says she will meet with campaigners to discuss concerns over a project which could bring up to 2,000 new houses to Marden.

Developers have announced proposals to create a "garden community", which would more than double the current number of homes in the village, while also providing two new schools, health facilities and office space.

It comes after Maidstone Borough Council launched a Call for Sites, in which it asked for ideas of land which could be developed, ahead of a review of its Local Plan in 2022.

However, the scheme has been met with anger by hundreds of villagers who fear such large-scale development would "crush" them.

The Marden Planning Opposition Group packed out a recent parish council meeting to voice concerns and are also planning a protest march later this spring to ensure their feelings are made clear.

Maidstone and the Weald MP Helen Grant has now insisted she will hold talks with the key parties involved.

"It is important to make clear that the Local Plan Review is only in its very early stages and that there are therefore no formal planning applications currently on the table," she said.

"I will however be investigating in detail the specific suggestions which have been proposed in relation to the area close to Marden over the coming days.

"Furthermore, whilst, within my role as MP for Maidstone and the Weald, I have no direct jurisdiction over the planning system, I am absolutely committed to ensuring the views of my constituents are heard by Maidstone Borough Council as the Local Plan Review progresses.

"With this in mind, I look forward to meeting with the community groups involved in order to discuss their understandable concerns.

"In addition, my long running campaign to persuade our local authorities of the need to ensure that any future development is accompanied by the required infrastructure continues apace and will be at the crux of any contribution I make to the Local Plan Review."

Developer Countryside Properties, which argues the project would see Marden benefit from new facilities and better links to Maidstone town centre, also says it will meet and speak with those living and working in the village over the coming months.