Plans for 2,000 homes sprawling across 240 acres of farmland have been submitted.

Millwood Designer Homes wants the go-ahead to create a new estate near to the medieval Dent-De-Lion gatehouse in Garlinge, Thanet.

The Kent-based house-building firm has lodged its official proposals, which spread to the south of Westgate, with the district council years after the first stages of the project were hatched.

The Gallops - which is also set to include two primary schools, shops and care home - derives its name from the history of the site, which was once a Victorian racecourse.

Much of the land is earmarked for development in the council's Local Plan, a blueprint for future homes across the district.

Should the plans be rubber-stamped, the estate would chip into the council's target - set in 2011 - of delivering 17,000 homes by 2031.

Documents compiled by planning agents state: "This new mixed-use neighbourhood will include up to 2,000 new homes, a primary school, a potential care home, land for a medical facility, a variety of green spaces that thread through the development providing a permeable network of routes and spaces for wildlife and people to enjoy.

"A ‘village green’ preserves the setting of the listed building Dent-de-Lion and the framed avenue retains and enhances existing long-range views, embedding the new neighbourhood into its context while creating new spaces for the existing and new residents to enjoy."

Posting on Facebook last night, Westgate-on-Sea ward councillor Bertie Braidwood said the plans will "change Westgate and Garlinge forever".

Millwood is also behind a 1,600-home plan for Birchington.

Ranging from one to five beds homes, the first phase of the Westgate scheme is set to deliver 120 properties accessed from Garlinge High Street and Dent-de-Lion Road.

"This first phase provides an opportunity to create a visually striking gateway and set a high standard for the future phases of development," the plans state.

The developers say a "substantial area of public open space including swales, play areas and a permanent pond" will be delivered.

Westgate was originally meant to be allocated 1,000 new homes.

But a vote two years ago to not develop at Manston airport, resulted in thousands of unbuilt homes being reallocated to new Thanet sites.

Millwood states play areas, woodland, orchards and new cycle and walking routes will be created.

The developers say the open spaces will have views of the listed Dent-De-Lion gatehouse, now a fortified tower built for the Daundelyon family in the early 15th century.

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