A council has blocked a developer’s plans to roll out a sprawling 1,350-home estate after branding its traffic plans “not fit for purpose”.

Kent County Council (KCC) has lodged a ‘holding objection’ to the Brooklands Farm scheme in Chestfield, near Whitstable, meaning the bid cannot progress until its transport provisions are improved.

The authority says the project’s transport assessment fails to properly model key intersections along the Old Thanet Way corridor and underestimates traffic impacts.

"Overall, the junction models appear to be significantly overestimating capacity,” writes the local highway authority.

“As it stands, the models do not appear to be fit for purpose, and it would therefore not be possible to comment on the overall development impact until these issues are corrected.”

KCC says the projections of delay and queue length at roundabouts near the scheme could be off by as much as 50%.

It rejected proposed mini-roundabouts at South Street/Chestfield Road/Radfall Hill and South Street/Millstrood Road, stating they would be unsafe and non-compliant with national guidelines.

Developers Hallam Land say 10% of homes at the estate will be reserved for older persons’ accommodation and 30% for affordable homes.

A primary and a separate Special Educational Needs school (SEND) are also lined up for the site.

The plot off South Street - comprised of agricultural fields, ancient woodland and Swalecliffe Brook - was earmarked for housing in Canterbury City Council's draft Local Plan.

But Whitstable residents have complained, arguing the town is becoming overdeveloped and that wildlife will suffer if the bid gets the green light.

Among the dozens of objections lodged with the planning authority, resident Mandy Mullaney wrote: “This area is already overwhelmed, and if these proposals go ahead, it will be dark and depressing times ahead for local people and the environment.”

Vanessa Fahmy added: “Losing this agricultural land and area of natural beauty would be an absolute tragedy,” she said.

Those opposing the development launched a campaign called Save Brooklands Farmland, which has been supported by Emily Firmin, the daughter of Peter Firmin, who co-created Bagpuss.

Find out about planning applications that affect you by visiting the Public Notice Portal.

Elsewhere in Whitstable, the local plan also includes proposals for a new 70-home estate on green space at Golden Hill alongside new traveller and gypsy pitches.