Roadworks to create a new junction for a 750-home housing estate are due to begin in the New Year.

Building firm Taylor Wimpey is set to get the ball rolling on the first stages of construction for its Stone Pit II development near Dartford for 763 homes.

It comes as a raft of concerns ranging from flooding, parking, energy efficiency and doctors' provision were raised after a presentation to residents and councillors during a special meeting at Stone Parish Council earlier this month.

The site, off Watling Street, has been granted outline planning permission by Dartford council with the housebuilder revealing plans for more detailed applications earlier this year which were then submitted in November.

Some 24% of the homes on the site will be affordable housing, and there will be a mix of two, two-and-a-half (living accommodation in the roof), three and four-storey dwellings with 1,386 parking spaces.

The work will see new junctions created from Watling Street and London Road to access the site.

Work for the junction to enter the development from London Road is scheduled to start in January.

The development will also include a spine road linking Watling Street with London Road.

As traffic has increased since the planning process started, adaptations have been made to traffic management.

The junctions from Watling Street and London Road into the new site will be controlled by traffic lights and it is proposed the road be marked with two lanes at Watling Street to manage the traffic.

A continuous footpath will be created on Watling Street, which will aim to provide better links to the bus stop in the area.

The development will also provide better connection through Stone with additional footpaths connecting via the southern end of the allotments through the new development and into Stone Recreation Ground.

This aims to help residents have easier access to schools and green space.

Developers say 30% of the site will be open space making it "a mid-density scheme" based on hectares per property.

The site has been designed so the northern area nearer London Road is more urban and said to be becoming increasingly suburban towards the southern end.

When Taylor Wimpey held a public exhibition on August 15, there was backlash from neighbours angry at the proposals.

Following the latest presentation on December 7, council members also raised a number of points.

They queried how the developers were going to make the buildings carbon neutral – as the council is aiming to be carbon neutral by 2030 and it wants to support developments to meet this objective.

London Road has already been identified as a "quality management area" as it has higher rates for both nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and particulate (PM10) levels.

The council also questioned energy supply for homes in the development site, as most properties will be fitted with a gas boiler.

Taylor Wimpey representatives said how the planning application complied with 2021 building regulations but 2025 building regulations are likely to stipulate how new developments must reduce their dependence on fossil fuels and potentially state sites should not make use of any fossil fuels.

They also highlighted how the technology for using renewable energy sources is still not developed enough but homes on the site will benefit from solar panels.

Some councillors raised the ongoing issues with flooding in London Road, however Taylor Wimpey told the meeting the proposed scheme includes plans to improve drainage in this area which should help reduce flooding.

Councillors also said that lorry parking along London Road continues to be a concern for residents and representatives said the proposed changes to the junction at London Road will help with this but admitted it may not fully resolve the problem.

It was questioned how the design of the site is in keeping with the area and designers said the larger four storey blocks which will contain flats are situated in areas that do not currently have housing as they want to avoid putting larger blocks near existing housing.

The likelihood of a GP practice being built on the site was questioned, as it was felt this is a much-needed piece of infrastructure required for the area.

Developers said the process cannot yet begin until planning matters are resolved.

Both members and the developers agreed it is the lack of doctors which makes this process challenging but are hopeful they will find someone to take on a practice.

They said that if a GP practice did not happen then the allocated space could be used for other medical care such as a dentist or pharmacy.

Asked how the company planned to address concerns raised at the meeting, a Taylor Wimpey spokesman said: "Our proposals for Stone Pit II have been carefully considered following consultation with Dartford Borough Council, other key stakeholders and the local community.

“The details of our proposed design, energy strategy, drainage and access proposals are currently being considered by Dartford Borough Council."