Concern that the population of the town of Dover will migrate to Whitfield when thousands of new homes are built there, has been expressed by The Dover Society.

Leading members of the 450-strong civic group have commented on the planning application to build the first phase of the residential development, consisting of 1,400 new properties. Eventually, it is planned, there will be 5.750 new homes at Whitfield.

Patrick Sherratt, acting chairman of the society’s planning committee, has written to the district council’s chief executive Nadeem Aziz submitting that the council must recognise the development raises issues outside Whitfield.

He fears the planned “district retail centre” will result in more shop closures in Dover town centre and the new homes will attract families at present living in and around the town centre.

And he wonders where the money is coming from to pay for the schools, library and police station promised in the planning application.

“So far Dover District Council has failed to deliver Dover projects and there is concern town projects will be put on the backburner as more officers’ time is devoted to Whitfield,” said Mr Sherratt.