A planning blueprint that will pave the way for 11,000 homes in a Kent district has been agreed - and includes redevelopment of a former colliery.

Dover District Council’s Local Plan contains proposals for major housing developments in Dover, Deal and Sandwich over the next 16 years.

The council met last month to formally adopt the plan, which has been put together by the Labour administration that took control of the authority last year.

The majority of the new housing development will be in Dover and Whitfield, including 2,200 for the Whitfield Urban Expansion, which is the single largest scheme included in the plan and would double the size of the present village.

But the blueprint also includes the former Snowdown Colliery - a 98-acre site near Aylesham that closed in October 1987 and has remained disused since then.

The plan does not specify exactly what is proposed for the site, but the council describes it as a “heritage regeneration opportunity”.

“The majority of the site has returned to nature since the closure of the colliery and includes Grade II-listed buildings,” it said.

“Ecological assets on the site shall be maintained and enhanced.

“Development proposals will need to include long-term sustainable vision for investment in the reuse of the former colliery buildings. There is potential for mixed uses.”

Snowdown Colliery is one of two “heritage regeneration opportunity” sites included in the plan, with the other being Dover’s Western Heights.

The aim for the former Napoleonic fortifications is to restore its heritage assets as remaining structures have fallen into disrepair and land there is overgrown.

The council wants to “widen its appeal as a strategic location for inward investment, enhancing the Western Heights as a destination of national and international significance”.

This, it says, would complement Dover's other heritage attractions.

Economic growth is focused towards the White Cliffs Business Park in Whitfield and Discovery Park in Sandwich.

The council says infrastructure requirements, including improvements to the Whitfield and Duke of York roundabouts, will be needed to be delivered to support growth.

The authority wants affordable housing for at least 30% of the total homes provided on a site.

This would usually be for at least 10 homes or six in designated rural areas.

The largest housing development in Dover town is the waterfront which is earmarked for 260 homes.

It is seen as a fixed development area with space for 10,000 sq m of commercial floorspace, which would include offices, shops, restaurants and cafes.

“We want to create a district that is a leading destination to live…”

The 27-acre area is centred on Wellington Dock, and includes the former De Bradelei Wharf shopping centre, which was knocked down last year, and the Camden Crescent car park and Waterloo Crescent.

Most of the area is owned by the Port of Dover authority except the car park, which is owned by Dover District Council.

The report says: “Creating a complementary offer between the town centre and the waterfront area will further enhance visitation footfall and linkages between the two locations.

“This is subject to the provision of attractive, convenient and safe pedestrian routes.”

The town’s next biggest development area is land at Barwick Road Industrial estate, a vacant plot in Coombe Valley, earmarked for 150 homes.

The report says: “The site currently has disused and unkempt industrial and warehouse units within it.”

The third biggest development area in the town is next to the former Buckland Paper Mill at Crabble Hill, which is pencilled in for 135 homes.

The original mill building itself is already a mixed use place of residential, retail and commercial plus a four-storey block of flats.

It is now called Clocktower Lofts and also includes businesses such as the Co-operative store, which opened in October 2020, and a gymnasium.

A paper mill had been on this site since the 18th century, and Wiggins Teape made the product in Dover until 2000.

A total of 100 homes are also earmarked at Bench Street in Dover.

This is already the subject of £24.8 million Dover Beacon development, a business, education and arts hub.

Another 100 homes are planned to replace the Charlton Shopping Centre multi-storey car park in Crafford Street.

The entire site, including the 28,609 sq ft mall, is set to go up for auction next week, but the Local Plan only covers the 300-bay car park.

A third area listed for 100 homes is Dover mid-town between the high street, Park Street, Pencester Road and Maison Dieu Road.

It covers 15 acres and includes EKC Dover College, part of Biggin Street, the Riverside Centre, Citizens Advice Bureau and the BT telephone exchange, which largely now has redundant buildings.

The single biggest development wanted in Deal is for 140 homes in Cross Road.

It is on land west of that road, the size of more than 12 football pitches, and planning permission was granted in September.

The next bigger prospect in the conurbation is at Rays Bottom near Walmer Castle, where 75 homes are planned.

The farmland is already adjoined by large detached houses and close by is the Hawkshill Down designated open space.

Other places allocated in the area include 25 homes for Station Road, Deal, and 10 for Northbourne Road, Great Mongeham.

Elsewhere, a total of 640 homes are earmarked for south of Spinney Lane in Aylesham, originally the main set of homes for Snowdown Colliery miners.

The village has already expanded with 1,000 new homes, occupied north of the village over the last decade.

This has pushed up the population there from 4,905 in 2011 to 6,400 in 2021, according to census data.

Another former mining area is land between the villages of Eythorne and Elvington, where 300 homes are wanted.

Elvington was especially built, in the early 20th century, to house miners from the nearby Tilmanstone Colliery, which closed in 1986.

Another 196 dwellings are wanted in Ash but that is covered by the Ash Neighbourhood Plan.

Seven places in Sandwich are listed for housing and the largest amount, 75, is on land south of Stonar Lake and north east of Stonar Gardens.

The site is brownfield and is now used as a salvage yard and for other commercial storage. Land south of the site already has a small cul-de-sac of houses.

Another 60 homes are wanted on farmland close to Sandwich Technology School in Deal Road.

This is land of about 2.5 acres and there are already large detached houses close by.

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

Speaking at last month’s full council meeting, Cllr Edward Biggs (Lab), portfolio holder for planning and built environment, said the district “needs quality housing”.

“I’m aware that housing development and government targets give a lot of concern to our residents but I believe this plan will give a clear vision on how we tread that critical path,” he said.

“We need to ensure the very special environment that we enjoy in our district is protected from unsuitable development.”

After the meeting, council leader Kevin Mills (Lab) said: “We want to create a district that is a leading destination to live, work, visit, learn and invest and the Local Plan plays a central role in this.

“Our Local Plan has the policies in place to ensure we provide the homes people need and can afford, along with the supporting infrastructure and community facilities.

“It also has new policies on climate change and the natural environment, to make our district greener and healthier for everyone.”