Housebuilder Taylor Wimpey has submitted a planning application for the first phase of a 500-home scheme at Canterbury’s former Howe Barracks.

Detailed plans are in for the 171 homes on the 66-acre site off Littlebourne Road, with construction set to be begin next spring.

Taylor Wimpey, one of the UK’s biggest housing developers, already has outline planning permission for 500 homes on the barracks land but will deliver the scheme in three phases.

Plans for phase one, Royal Parade, include a mix of one, two, three and four-bedroom homes, with 26% of the properties allocated as affordable housing.

The scheme includes four children’s play areas, a 3G sports pitch, a community orchard, parkland and open space.

As part of the planning agreement, the developer will also retain three of the original buildings – the gymnasium, chapel and small arms trainer – to be transferred to a trust for community use.

The Ministry of Defence sold the land in 2015 with the proviso that developers throw in a series of community benefits.

These include £1.4 million towards a secondary school, more than £230,000 towards the expansion of Pilgrims Way Primary School, along with a contribution to local libraries, social care and youth provision.

There will also be a £500,000 contribution to improvement works at the junction near Tourtel Road and a new vehicle and pedestrian access with a new link road connecting Littlebourne Road with Chaucer Road.

A Taylor Wimpey spokesman said: “Should our reserved matters planning application be approved by Canterbury City Council, we look forward to starting works on site and delivering much-needed, high-quality new homes, as well as providing significant investment in a wide range of local community facilities for new and existing residents to enjoy.”

The proposal will be decided by the city council’s planning committee.