New images of a controversial 87-home development planned in Littlebourne have been unveiled by architects.

The housing scheme was given the green light by Canterbury City Council in June 2016, despite receiving almost 150 objections from villagers, mainly about its scale and possible traffic issues.

Now, a planning application for the approval of its appearance, layout, landscaping and scale has been approved by city planners, who signed off the proposal and new images last week.

The development, by Leath Park and Moat, will be on farmland between The Hill and Jubilee Road and once built, will increase the village’s size by about 15%.

Two properties - 42 and 42A The Hill - will be demolished to make way for 38 three-bed homes, 18 four-bed homes and five five-bed properties.

The scheme will also include 26 affordable homes, made up of flats and three-bed houses, as well as a new doctors’ surgery.

Access to the site will be from The Hill.

Tim Wolfe-Murray, a partner at Clague Architects, which drew up the designs, says it is a sensitive residential development.

“In addition to the new family homes, the development will open up over two hectares of public open space and will include ornamental orchards and a children’s play trail,” he said.

“The site plan has been designed to incorporate generous landscaped spaces within the development including a central entrance green.”

Littlebourne Parish Council was among those who opposed the development when planning permission was sought by Ridings, and it still retains concerns.

Vice-chairman Cllr Mick Giles said: “Obviously we didn’t want the development but we’re resigned to it now. It’s just one of those things. We’ve met with the new developers and they’ve been quite co-operative.

“We just need to keep talking with them to see what we can gain from it.”