Developers looking to build hundreds of homes around a tiny village are seeking to bypass local planners and have the bid decided by a government inspector.

Trenport first submitted its controversial proposals for 950 homes to wrap around three sides of Eccles in January last year.

It has revised its plans for the development – known as Bushey Wood – several times and only submitted its latest batch of drawings in November.

Horrified villagers have already submitted 798 individual letters of objection - which exceeds the number of households in the village.

But now the company has given Tonbridge and Malling council notice of its intention to file an appeal with the planning inspectorate on February 20 on the grounds of "non-determination".

Such a move would mean that while the borough would still get to give its views on the plans, the decision will be taken away from it and given to a government inspector.

Cllr Dave Davis (Con) is the cabinet member responsible for planning.

He said: "This is a large, complex application and we’ve been working hard with Trenport over a number of months to ensure it meets the high standards we set for developments of this type.

"In particular we’ve been focused on ensuring the application meets our policies in areas such as sustainability, highways and landscape impacts and affordable housing.

"We felt progress was being made which was supported by a recently amended planning performance agreement with the company, so it’s disappointing the developers felt it necessary to go down this road.

"A report to the relevant council planning committee will now be prepared and members will determine the application as they would have had Trenport not lodged its appeal.

"We will then be in a position to robustly defend the council’s position on the grounds agreed by local members."

Council leader Matt Boughton (Con) said: "Bushey Wood is a large and complex application and for a number of months we have been scrutinising Trenport's plans closely.

"A decision has not been made by now because there remains some outstanding work on their revised plans, especially with comments still coming in on these.

"So it is really disappointing that Trenport is complaining that the council has not made a decision.

"That's not fair on everyone who took the time to share their thoughts in good faith."

He added: "There is also the point that decisions should be made by local representatives, Trenport has taken away this right."

Details of the planning application can be found here under the application number 22/00113.

Proposals put forward by Trenport encompass a 63-hectare plot which covers mainly farmland but also St Marks School and the village allotments.

The construction company is proposing to set aside land for a two-form entry primary school to replace St Marks, which is only one-form entry.

It also promises the provision of two full-size sports pitches and two junior pitches, plus a community hub and 22 hectares of "semi-natural open space".

Trenport argues that one major benefit will be the diversion of through traffic away from Bull Lane, the narrow main road through the village.

A Trenport spokesman previously stated: "Our planning application for Bushey Wood in Eccles has been designed to provide a wide range of sustainable high quality homes and an extensive range of benefits for the local community.

"This includes a significant contribution towards providing a new bus service to serve the community, which has been agreed through close liaison with Kent County Council."

But residents are unhappy and say the development would engulf their village, more than doubling its size and placing intolerable pressure on local infrastructure.

It comes amid growing fears of urbanisation in the area with The East Malling Trust also wanting to build a 1600-home new community across Ditton, Aylesford and East Malling.

Those proposals took many by surprise including Chatham and Aylesford MP Tracey Crouch who labelled the plan "monstrous".