Work has started preparing farmland for controversial housebuilding.

Diggers are clearing the Ufton Court Farm site so almost 300 homes can be built in Tunstall, near Sittingbourne.

Pictures from the site and aerial footage show the work taking place, which includes trees being cut down.

It comes as further plans have been submitted by developer Taylor Wimpey for the site, which is the size of 40 football pitches.

The housebuilder had already secured permission to build the 290 homes in principle in July, after the scheme was approved by a planning inspector.

But it also needs a nod from Swale council for the finer details such as the mix, layout and design of the buildings.

New images showing what the estate is expected to look like once built are included in the new proposals, which have been submitted to the authority.

If approved, Swale and Kent County Council (KCC) would receive £6.5 million, which would be used for local infrastructure, including education, healthcare facilities, and highways.

Swale had rejected the proposals, which include 87 affordable homes, in November 2023.

This was after it received more than 200 letters of objection from members of the public.

It said the site fell outside the boundaries of Sittingbourne and was not allocated for housing in its Local Plan.

The council added that it would risk spoiling the character of the countryside, would mean loss of top-grade farmland, and it would miss the authority’s target of 40% affordable homes, as it would only provide 30%.

But the plans, submitted by Urban Wilderness in November 2022, went to appeal in December.

Taylor Wimpey purchased the land in January. The developer would not be drawn on who it bought the land from, but confirmed it was not Urban Wilderness.

Planning inspector David Spencer allowed the proposals in July, pointing to the need for house building in Swale as the primary reason to allow the proposals.

Some 5,430 homes are earmarked for construction between April 1 last year and March 31, 2028, across the borough.

He also addressed concerns about roads in the area which were labelled as “totally unsuitable” when the proposals were at the consultation stages.

Access will be via a new roundabout at the junction of Minterne Avenue, College Road and Riddles Road, near the Beauty of Bath pub.

He said the new layout was an “improvement” and added there was “no reason to refuse the appeal on highway grounds”.

At that time, Cllr Mike Baldock (Swale Inds), who represents Borden and Grove Park, said the location of the development was “ludicrous”.

He added that his residents would not receive any benefits from the scheme.

Swale council has set a determination deadline of Tuesday, July 1.