Ashford Borough Council (ABC) has refused to rule out plans for a huge development on a controversial site in Kennington.

The prospect of 700 new homes being built on the so-called Large Burton estate in Kennington has sparked massive opposition from residents who have called for the site to be protected.

Cllr Philip Sims, ward member for Kennington, branded the proposals ‘unnecessary and misguided’ and vowed to oppose any significant development without improvements to the roads.

But a council spokesman this week refused to deny the site could be developed.

He said: "As we stated previously, we have to plan for the borough’s housing needs in the future and that means the council has to consider a range of options as to how best to meet that need.

"The Local Plan process provides the opportunity for people to comment on and propose various alternatives but it is not appropriate to comment on rumours and speculation at this point. A draft plan is anticipated to be published for public consultation in May 2016.

"We would like to assure residents that any proposals in a draft local plan are then put to full public consultation and an independent inspector will consider all responses when the plan is examined."

The plans will form part of ABC’s Local Plan 2030, which looks at potential developments across Ashford over the next 25 years.

The so-called Large Burton Estate – opposite the existing Little Burton Estate – is one part of the whole development plan for the borough, which is due to be made public in May.

If approved, the huge estate would stretch from the Conningbrook Hotel up to Orchard Lane, across Grade 1 agricultural land.

The National Planning Policy Framework (the NPPF) defines Grade one agricultural land as 'only to be considered in exceptional circumstances.'