A decision on a 63-home development – which residents fear will “ruin” their village – has been pushed back.

Developer New Homes & Land wants to build 63 homes on the northwestern edge of Eastchurch village on the Isle of Sheppey, and planning officers had recommended the idea for approval.

In documents submitted to Swale Borough Council (SBC), the developer says: “The vision is to create a sustainable new living environment, based around a fully integrated new community with new homes that are accessible to everyone, an inclusive place which makes everyone feel comfortable, safe and secure.

“It will deliver a range of choice of new high quality housing, including affordable housing.

“The proposed development will deliver a high standard of design across all elements of the scheme such as landscaping and housing, irrespective of price.”

The outline planning permission would allow up to 63 homes to be built, but the mix of affordable and market properties, and sizes of the homes are yet to be decided, though it is planned to include “a balanced mix of dwellings, including flats and detached, semi-detached and terraced houses. These would range from one to four bedrooms in size, with the precise mix determined through subsequent reserved matters applications.”

The developer also boasts of plans to “restore the landscape structure surrounding Eastchurch” by planting new trees around the site.

SBC planning officials had recommended the bid for approval, saying “there would be some clear positive social impacts through the provision of housing and affordable housing, and some positive economic impacts through construction and local spending by future occupants.”

The local authority added that since it does not have a supply of housing for the next five years, it had to look more favourably on the development under national planning policy.

However, the development proved controversial, attracting 55 letters of objection from residents.

In public comments on the idea, Monica Taylor wrote: “This development will ruin the charm of the local village, which is already at capacity.”

Other residents echoed similar concerns, with Andy Fisher writing: “As with all the other applications that the island is being inundated with on green belt or agricultural land this is yet again going to stretch the roads, doctors, dentists etc to breaking point.

“There is no point building all these houses on an island with no jobs.”

Peter Loxton told the council: “It seems ludicrous that a village already at full capacity and with a large development under way should have another 63 houses developed, making it more difficult to cope with the already overrun doctors, dentist and schools within this community.

“It will have a huge impact on Lower Road which already has a constant stream of traffic.

“This road is already dangerous. I have often witnessed dangerous overtaking and have seen many fortunately minor incidents, so adding more cars and another junction off the lower road is not safe."

Other residents expressed similar traffic fears, with Vic Booth adding: “Traffic along the Lower Road is bad at the best of times and diabolical at others.

“More homes, more cars, more people will push what little usable infrastructure we have in the village beyond any rescue.”

However, Kent County Council’s Highways department raised no objections to the plans.

While 55 wrote in to object to the scheme, one resident wrote in favour.

Alex Gleed wrote to the planning committee: “I fully support this application.

“Our kids will need somewhere to live when they grow up. I have friends and family that would love to live closer to us in Eastchurch.

“There is a lack of available housing in Eastchurch.”

The plans were set for approval at a meeting of SBC’s planning committee on March 9, however councillors voted to defer it and reconsider it once they’ve visited the site.

Councillors said they wanted more information about the area, its accessibility, and the impact on services in Eastchurch before making a decision.