The final designs for a sprawling 4,000-home development could be delayed by up to a year - but initial works are still due to begin in 2025, say developers.

Documents outlining the finer proposed details of the Mountfield Park scheme on the edge of Canterbury were initially expected to be on the desks of council planners by the end of March.

But Canterbury City Council (CCC) papers reveal it now does not anticipate receiving the application - which will include details of the layout, scale and design of the buildings - until the 2025/26 financial year.

The report projects the authority’s budget for the planning and conservation department will overspend in 2024/25.

It says the “most significant variance” is a loss of income from fees particularly from “some of the strategic planning applications” which were due to be submitted this year.

Specifically mentioned is the South Canterbury project, also known as Mountfield Park, located on fields to the south of the city near the A2.

The council’s budget monitoring report, released ahead of this month’s cabinet meeting, reveals this is “not now being anticipated to be submitted until 2025/26”.

Developers have been working up plans for the best part of a decade and the estate was given outline approval by councillors in 2022.

The outline application faced hundreds of objections from locals, a High Court battle and lengthy delays.

It was formally granted planning permission by the authority in August 2023 after a Section 106 agreement was signed the previous month.

The multi-million legal agreement between Corinthian and the council sets out the developer’s financial contributions and obligations to provide community facilities and infrastructure, such as education, health and highways, and affordable housing.

Corinthian says it is continuing to develop its reserved matters plans but still intends to put the first spades in the ground in 2025.

A spokesperson for Corinthian said: “We still expect to start on-site in 2025 and are working diligently to meet this timeline.

“Throughout 2024, we’ve been engaging actively with local residents, groups, charities, and organisations. Many local people have attended our events and completed our online surveys.

“Our plans are evolving with feedback from local residents and community groups helping to shape our thinking.

“South Canterbury will bring exciting opportunities for so many.

“This has been, from the very start, a community-focused project and there will be many more opportunities for anyone to contribute in 2025 and beyond.”

Find out about planning applications that affect you by visiting the Public Notice Portal.

Full details of the first phases of work to start and dates are yet to be confirmed.

Previously, the company told this website it was aiming to start work in January.

But when asked by KentOnline for an update on whether this date was still planned and what disruption residents and visitors to the city could expect to see, the spokesperson added: “There are many early works/surveys needed which will not have any impact on residents.

“We will be in touch with residents in advance of anything which may be disruptive.”