A controversial development which could "cast a grey cloud over a happy village" has hit another hitch with highway bosses.

Plans to build 240 houses on farmland near the Ratcliffe Highway on the Hoo Peninsula were submitted to Medway Council in September.

The proposal by Gladman Developments Ltd includes 60 affordable homes and properties ranging from one to five bedrooms in size on the 30-acre site.

However, the application has already received nearly 30 objections - including from National Highways - the government-owned agency which run motorways and most A-roads across the country.

Last December, it declared the development's location near the M2 could lead to safety issues and so insisted planning permission should not be given for at least three months.

In a statement, a spokesman said: “We are concerned about the safety, reliability and operational efficiency of the Strategic Road Network (SRN) - in this case the M2 near Rochester.

“We require further information to be provided by the applicant on this application, in order that an informed decision can be made in relation to the potential impacts of the development on the SRN.”

The highways agency requested more data looking at the number of fatal and serious accidents in the area.

The transport sssessment submitted by the developer only gives this data for Peninsula Way, Main Road Hoo and the Ratcliffe Highway.

But National Highways said it would like to see the study area extended southwards to include Junctions 1 and 2 of the M2.

It also admits the reliance on developers creating a new spine road to access the development could create traffic problems.

Yet more than three months on, the transport body has once again objected to the estate - which it believes should not be given the green light now until at least the summer.

Its latest statement reads: "Since our response of December 6, no additional information from the applicant addressing our action points has been shared with National Highways or uploaded to the planning application webpage.

"It is [therefore] recommended that planning permission should not be granted until June 6, 2024."

Meanwhile, Active Travel England - a new government agency dedicated to creating people-friendly streets and promoting active transport options - has rejected to plans for the development entirely.

One of its objections stems from future homeowners being more than 800m away from a number of public facilities - the distance recognised as providing a walkable community for occupants.

Hoo residents have also echoed their concerns.

Jack Luckings, of Vidgeon Avenue, said: "There would be a concrete jungle and that is all.

"The proposal casts a grey cloud over our happy and quiet little village.

"I can see no real benefits to implementing this proposal without numerous detrimental impacts to the village infrastructure, local wildlife and residents themselves - none of which appear to have been considered."

Karen Hills also commented on the council’s planning portal. She said: "The Ratcliffe Highway and Four Elms Hill are already overloaded with traffic at peak times, and, as the only main route off of the Peninsular, it becomes impassable when there are road works or a road traffic accident.

"This severely impacts the ability of people to get to work or school and so for anyone who is self-employed, the loss of earnings must be a huge concern especially given the current economic climate."

To see more planning applications and other public notices for your area, click here.

A planning statement submitted with the plans says there is a “critical shortage” of housing in Medway.

It reads: “There is a need for around 1,700 affordable homes per annum, yet on average only 211 have been delivered in the district (Medway) since 2017/18.

“There is a critical housing shortage in Medway that is being exacerbated by low development completions.

“More housing development is drastically needed to address this situation."