A village is set for its population to boom after plans for 90 more homes – totalling 300 new properties overall – were submitted.

Newington, which saw just 62 extra people live in the ward between 2001 and 2011, could see more than 800 new residents due to six incoming developments.

One councillor who has lived in the ward for 30 years told KentOnline that plans for 90 new homes in Church Lane have sparked fears that housebuilding will turn the village into a town.

Cllr Richard Palmer (Reform) pointed to the lack of infrastructure which has come with the new builds, with all the development being for houses only.

The Newington representative says the expansion has brought none of the economic benefits associated with population increase for local businesses and has only made congestion and air quality worse.

He said: “When people move here they rarely use local amenities. They don’t go to the pubs or restaurants in the area rather they go elsewhere.

“It is putting a strain on the services we have got such as schools and health care with existing residents struggling to get places at the primary school and appointments.

“They have told me they feel let down. A village should grow organically over time rather than major housebuilding coming all at once.”

As of the 2021 census, more than 2,600 people live in the settlement which is based on both sides of the A2 between Sittingbourne and Rainham.

At the start of the 2000s, there were 2,102 residents. A decade later there were only 2,164.

But if new plans for the homes off Church Lane are given the green light it will take the number of approved homes to more than 300.

This would spark a population boom with more than 800 people coming to the village – based on the household average of 2.6 people.

For context, since 2016 just 124 homes in the villages High Street have been built.

Fernham Homes, which is set to complete the construction of 25 homes off of School Lane in September, says it will deliver “high-quality new homes in a sustainable location”, within the borough which is failing on its housing targets.

It also says 36 of the houses – 40% – will be affordable. These homes are at a premium for Swale council after it declared an affordable housing emergency in April.

There will be 222 parking spaces for the new residents and visitors as well as an additional 25 parking spaces for people already living in the area.

It says the construction phase would generate £15.2 million in economic output – with £10.5 million being within Swale.

There would also be around 56 construction jobs created over the three-year build time.

Once built, it estimates the estate would see an extra £1.4 million spent on local retail and services every year.

Since the plans were lodged on February 24, seven letters of objection have been sent from residents with most raising concerns about more traffic using Church Lane.

One said: “It is already not ideal for busy traffic flow due to the narrow pass points and acute angles at the A2 junction.

“Is access or egress to the estate going to be addressed by its own service road?”

Another villager commented: “Traffic often backs up onto the A2 [from Church Lane] bringing that section of road to a standstill.

“If there were another route into the development, we would not object to the plans.”

“Please don't allow for Newington to be swallowed up and become a building estate,” one resident pleaded, “no one with any village spirit or community benefit will want to stay and will move to other villages.

“Newington is such a tiny village with small services that the current members can't even currently fully enjoy.”

Swale council is set to decide on the project by June 2.