NEW government planning guidelines for growth town Ashford have left MP Damian Green fuming as they give targets he considers completely unrealistic.

The change of policy shows the number of houses and jobs expected to be created in the expansion town.

By 2011 a total of 7,900 homes will be built and between then and 2016 another 5,200. Thirty per cent of the new build must be affordable homes.

Targets set for job creation are 5,900 up to 2011 and another 4,400 by 2016.

Mr Green said: "The targets seem ludicrously optimistic. It is difficult to see how the Delivery Board can be expected to create the jobs when we are currently only creating around 350 jobs a year.

"My fear is that the housing number is out of proportion to jobs and we will be building homes for commuters."

Ashford council spokesman Ian Hill said that they had not received information about any changes in policy.

He confirmed that the figures released by MP Green were not wildly out of line with those they were working towards.

He said: "When we see the information we will consider the implications before making a formal response."