The battle to save one of the most historic Christian sites in the country from being engulfed by a new housing estate gets underway today.

Campaigners are fighting to protect the Grade II-listed St Augustine’s Cross at Cliffsend, near Ramsgate.

It marks the location where Augustine, sent by Pope Gregory to convert the Anglo-Saxons to Christianity, arrived in 597 AD and met with King Ethelbert to establish the faith in England.

But the sensitive location is under threat from 200 homes on the surrounding farmland.

The scheme in Cottington Road was rejected by Thanet District Council in June but the developer appealed and the hearing by the Planning Inspectorate is set to begin today (Wednesday).

The site is said to have huge historic significance and is managed by English Heritage.

County councillor Cllr Trevor Shonk (Reform), who represents Cliffsend, told KentOnline the monument has to be protected.

“This is where Christianity arrived in England and to allow all this housing right next door would be sacrilege,” he said.

“Our English heritage is under threat and I very much hope this appeal fails.”

Ward district councillor Brenda Rogers agrees, adding: “This is a hugely historic site and should never be built on.”

In the developer Richborough's original application for the farmland, bosses said the scheme would “provide the opportunity to create a characterful development and create a beautiful place integrated with the rest of Cliffsend to establish a sustainable community”.

They added: “The proposal will create a biodiverse mosaic on-site, enhancing the benefits of local residents through new homes, open space and play, delivering a landscape-led high-quality development.

“This application will make contributions to existing community needs and infrastructure and serve as an exemplar future development, meeting local housing needs with homes delivered in a sustainable location.”

But the scheme sparked dozens of objections from villagers and the parish council, which is also concerned about the extra traffic on the narrow country road.

Thanet District Council planning officers subsequently refused the development on a variety of grounds, including its proximity to the St Augustine Cross, which they said would result in “significant harm to the open historical setting of the monument”.

They were also concerned the new development, on either side of Cottington Road, would encroach beyond the existing urban boundaries of the village within the Wantsum North Shore Landscape Character Area.

The original application also did not include an archaeological assessment or bird survey.

In their appeal, the applicants say the housing need is demonstrable and the presumption should be in favour of sustainable development.

They argue the location is suitable and any perceived adverse impact is outweighed by the benefits, which include a new access to the Thanet Parkway station.

The developer accepts the valued heritage asset of the site but claims the new housing would result in “less than substantial harm” to the St Augustine’s Cross.

KentOnline previously revealed how more than 13,000 homes need to be built in the county every year under the Labour government’s targets.

In Thanet, the target is 1,148.