Developers want to expand a planned 400-home estate on the outskirts of Canterbury.

Quinn Estates is hoping to add a further 28 properties at Cockering Farm, on the edge of Thanington, having previously secured permission for the wider scheme.

The extension – envisaged to go on grassy scrubland behind homes facing the A28 – would be named Cockering Grove.

But progress on getting the proposal rubber-stamped has been put on the back-burner after developers decided to pull the plans to address concerns.

Wincheap councillor Nick Eden-Green has welcomed the withdrawal of the expansion, stating how he is “delighted” by the news.

However, his relief is not set to last long as Quinn Estates says it will be tweaking its designs.

Kent County Council objected to the original plans submitted in June last year, citing concerns over an “additional cumulative impact on the highway network”, which it says is already at capacity.

While the 400 homes are earmarked in the council’s Local Plan, the additional 28 are not.

But Quinn Estates says it will be taking measures to lower the potential impact of the additional homes.

Development director Ben Geering said: “We are confident any highways impact concerns could be overcome with some minor amendments.

“However, in common with other housing providers in the district, we’re working on ways to show that our development will be ‘nutrient neutral’ in terms of its impact on the Stour river and Stodmarsh lakes.

“As this will take some time, we’ve withdrawn the application while we do this work. We will resubmit the application in due course once we have a finalised a solution.

"The site is sustainably located to provide additional new homes that will contribute towards the district’s housing supply, including full affordable housing provision.”

In its application, Quinn Estates dubbed Cockering Grove an “exciting residential area” which would “maximise the potential” of the wider Cockering Farm scheme.

Quinn Estates no longer has responsibility for the 400-home Cockering Farm scheme, which has been taken on by Redrow.

The national housebuilder has its own issues, as the development is facing a legal challenge at the High Court.

The judicial review relates to the outline approval of the masterplan for the site and the subsequent so-called ‘non-material amendments’ to the conditions.

Findings of the legal examination are expected to be heard this month.

Work did start on the development late last year, but tools were downed in December as Redrow awaits the outcome of the judicial review.