Work on an access road to a proposed 300-home development is due to start later this year – but residents fear their village won’t be able to cope.

Housing developer Chartway Partnerships Group has confirmed construction will soon begin off Frognal Lane, in Teynham, near Sittingbourne.

In a letter sent to those living nearby, site manager Matt Freeman said: “The development has received outline planning permission for 300 homes and full planning approval for the roundabout and access road.

“We aim to commence works to construct the roundabout and access road in October this year and hope to commence housing construction in spring 2024.”

Before the building begins Chartway is undertaking preparatory work for the development.

This includes fencing off the land to secure a working area, the formation of a small temporary car park, an archaeological Investigation, ecology works and ground investigations.

According to the developer, the new build will provide affordable rent, shared ownership and private sale homes comprising a mix of one, two, three and four-bedroom homes.

Of the 300 homes, 50 will be available as affordable rent while another 50 homes will be delivered for shared ownership.

There will also be a new employment space, sports pitch, pavilion and an open space with allotments, if given the go ahead.

However, the development is not welcomed by the people of Teynham.

Conservative councillor for the area, Julien Speed, said: “We’re not happy about the development.

“No one locally is happy about this. Its outline planning permission was granted in 2017 and work is finally going to begin later this year.

“But Teynham doesn’t have the infrastructure to cope with 300 more houses.

“There is no GP in Teynham and we also have drainage and water supply problems here.”

Cllr Lloyd Bowen, who also represents the Conservatives in Teynham, explained the situation to worried residents on social media.

He said: “The site has outline planning permission already. The work they are currently doing is permitted as it is preparatory work and studies.

“They cannot start building the houses until they have, and if they get, full planning permission.

“However, it appears that the road access part of the plans has got full planning permission already.

“Julien and I are very much aware of residents' feelings on this development and I am predisposed to object based on the will of residents.”

Plans for the development were first put forward by Trenport, a different property developer, in 2016 for 260 dwellings.

It had been promoting the development of Frognal Lane for more than a decade.

Its previous landowners, Blue Circle Cement and Saxon Developments Limited, had also undertaken various consultations on building homes at the site, going back to the early 1990s.

In March it was announced that Chartway agreed terms to partner with Moat, a housing association.

Sarah Butler, the development director at Moat, said: “Moat and Chartway share similar values and approaches to providing new community-led housing developments. We are looking forward to working with Chartway to bring forward much-needed affordable homes to this beautiful area of Kent. It will be a fantastic community to live in and we are excited to be a part of it.”

Chartway chief executive Steven Cresswell agreed.

He said: “Chartway collaborates with housing associations to deliver new homes and placemaking. I’m delighted we are partnering with Moat to bring forward our first housing scheme in partnership and look forward to working with the team in the future and developing our relationship.

“The vision for the Frognal Lane development is to provide new energy efficient homes for everyone and support the economic, social and environmental needs of the local area and smaller surrounding communities.”

For more details about the development use reference 16/507689/OUT on Swale Council’s planning portal.