Housing developers say building work on Ashford’s biggest ever housing estate will begin soon.

Chilmington Green will see 5,750 new homes built on fields to the west of the town, with the new mini-town separated from Singleton and Washford Farm by a new country park.

The plans were finally approved in October 2014 by Ashford Borough Council’s (ABC) planning committee, and negotiations are continuing between the developers and the council over section 106 contributions to be made to the council.

The development is being backed by a consortium of four major housing firms which include Pentland Homes, Ward Homes, Barratt Homes and Hodson Developments.

A spokesman for the four firms said: “In October last year ABC resolved to grant planning permission for the Chilmington Green development.

“Since that date the developers have been working with Kent County Council and ABC to agree the details regarding the development and finalising a comprehensive and complex Planning Agreement.

“It is envisaged that the Planning Agreement will be completed in January next year, and that house building will commence shortly afterwards. Details of the development programme will be made public as they are confirmed.”

The development will be Ashford’s largest to date, dwarfing other estates such Finberry, which will contain nearly 1,200 homes.

The developers say the new estate will also provide major infrastructure and community facilities, with plans for four primary schools, a secondary school and road links.

Indeed it will be so large that it will contain its own high street, market square, a village green and cricket field, a supermarket, and sports pitches.

There will also be a community hub which will contain a village hall, a nursery, a youth centre, a library, a GP surgery and a place of worship.

They estimate that the new estate will generate up to 1,000 new jobs for the town, and will deliver 3,350 new homes within five years of construction.

In the past the application had faced fierce opposition from the Keep Chilmington Green campaign, led by the then parish council chairman Karen Hopkins who gained 8,000 signatures for a petition.

But it was to no avail, as the council backed the plans following support from the planning inspector which deemed the development as “sound” and said the benefits of the scheme outweighed the damage to the countryside.