A proposal for 660 new homes, shared public spaces and a cafe in the centre of Ashford has been received by the council.

The plans, from developers U+I, based in London, and Quinn Estates, based in Canterbury, would see a mix of flats and houses built on three parcels of empty land off Victoria Road, on the former Powergen site.

The homes would consist of one, two, and three-bedroom flats, plus 25 houses, with two-thirds of them expected to be rented.

In total, 500 car parking spaces are planned for the development, plus 600 cycle spaces.

The hybrid planning application, which was registered with Ashford Borough Council’s planning team last week, explains that the scheme’s five plots would be built in two phases.

The application seeks full planning permission for the first phase, and outline planning permission for the second.

If the project is approved, phase one would see the construction of plots one and two, which would sit either side of Victoria Road and each include four blocks of flats.

Combined, they would include 400 homes, several communal green spaces, underground car parking and associated landscaping works.

A 61 sq m pop-up style shop or cafe unit would also be included in plot two, and would be close to the path that leads from the town centre into Victoria Park in a bid to “attract as many passers-by as possible”.

Outline planning permission is also sought for plots three, four and five, which would be built on land between Victoria Road and the river.

In order to make way for the proposed 260 homes – four blocks of flats and 25 houses, plus the parking and landscaping on this parcel of land – several existing and empty buildings would need to be demolished first.

The planning statement for the development states: “The proposed scheme will deliver 660 much needed residential homes to the Ashford housing market.

“The site is located in such a way that as residents travel out of the town centre towards the site there is a sense that they are moving from a more urban area to one that feels more semi-rural.

“This has been acknowledged in the development of the design; the strategy that has been employed is for the buildings in plots closer to the town centre (plots one and two) to be larger in scale and have a more metropolitan feel, whereas the buildings in plots three, four and five will reduce in scale.”

Plans to transform the wasteland, close to Ashford International railway station, were first revealed in October last year at two public consultations.

Developers said they hoped the project would attract London commuters as part of efforts to boost the local economy.

So far, 364 people living in Jemmett Road, Chichester Close and Queen Street, among others, have been consulted on the plans, which are due before the planning committee in April.

The land involved is known as the Powergen (now E.ON) site as it was occupied by the firm in the 1990s.