Plans for hundreds of homes which have proved unpopular with locals have been approved by councillors.

Swale council's extraordinary planning committee met earlier this month, to discuss the proposals which are destined for the A2 next to The Street and Foxhill in Bapchild.

It comes after Bapchild Parish Council and other residents opposed the scheme for 311 properties.

As well as the homes, the scheme is set to include shopping and community facilities and will be the first phase of the development.

The plans, which were submitted by Chartway Group, were given outline permission in December 2017.

Between 550 and 600 homes will be built once the work is fully complete.

Some of the worries included a new set of traffic lights being added to the A2 so people could get in and out of the estate and a drop-off zone for Lansdowne Primary School.

Bapchild Parish Council vice-chairman, Richard Bush, said: "The parish council will be pleased to work with our councillor Cllr Monique Bonney (Ind) to resolve the outstanding reserved matters.

"This is particularly in respect of the development's road layout that in part is also serving Lansdowne Primary School to confirm the correct highway capacity and the design will not have a detrimental environment impact.

"This objective would also match with councillors voting to declare a climate and ecological emergency in Swale."

The parish council will be involved in further discussions with the developer once it has produced amended drawings to match the conditions set out at the meeting, Mr Bush added.

"If we still find them unacceptable they would go back to the planning committee," he said.

Among other points to be discussed was the amount of affordable housing.

The plans stated 123 of the homes would go on the private market, 72 would be affordable rent, 69 would be shared ownership and 47 allocated for social rent.

The first phase of the estate will be made up of 35 one-bedroom homes, 109 with two, 124 with three 42 with four and one five-bedroom property.

Bapchild Parish Council will be involved in further discussions with the developer once it has produced amended drawings to match the conditions set out at last week’s meeting.

It must discuss concerns about the internal estate layout and the impact on the environment from the new school drop-off.

Among other points to be discussed was the amount of affordable housing.

Some 123 of the homes will go on the private market, 72 would be affordable rent, 69 would be shared ownership and 47 allocated for social rent.

Construction is expected to begin in January and, according to Hyde Homes which is providing the affordable housing, the first properties should be ready by spring 2021.

The second phase of the development is not expected to start until 2023.

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