Plans for 117 homes that were rejected have now been passed – after just seven fewer were asked for.

In September, councillors voted six to three to throw out the proposal for land off Sandwich Road, Sholden, near Deal.

But it has now been passed after a revised application for up to 110 homes, and some other changes, was submitted.

Dover District Council's (DDC) planning committee had rejected the original scheme for opposite Sholden Fields due to landscaping concerns.

They concluded that the larger development, as seen from nearby footpaths, would harm the character and look of the wider area.

But the revised scheme from Richborough Estates Limited, of Birmingham, offered other changes such as a slight alteration to the housing mix to include five bungalows.

They also proposed a reduction in height of the highest buildings from two-and-a-half storeys to two and more open space.

Changes in landscaping were also offered with buffers increased along the north-western and south-western boundaries and additional hedgerow and woodland planted to screen the site.

District planning officers had recommended approval on both occasions.

This time they stressed that the development would provide new housing, including affordable, new public open space and improvements to the public rights of way network.

A total 54 letters of objection from neighbour have built up over the issue.

The latest ones argued that Sholden should remain a village and that this scheme would lead to a loss of agricultural land.

'The majority of the committee felt the developer had done enough for the application to be approved.'

They said it would also lead to traffic congestion and that the area already had a shortage of GPs and school places.

They added that too little open space was being offered by the developers.

Sholden Parish Council was also against the scheme, saying it would harm the character and appearance of the wider landscape.

It also argued that the area does not have the roads, schools, doctors’ surgeries or a sewage system to cope with such a major development.

The scheme was voted through by councillors with six votes in favour and four against.

Cllr Roger Walkden (Con), vice-chairman of the planning committee, said: "The application was refused before, due to landscaping issues.

"The application that was approved last Thursday had satisfactorily resolved those issues and the developer had reduced the number of houses and introduced bungalows reducing the height on the highest part of the site.

"The majority of the committee felt the developer had done enough for the application to be approved."

A spokesman for DDC added: "We can confirm that planning committee approved this application, in accordance with the report recommendations.

"The report sets out the amendments made by the applicants to the scheme, which included a lower number of homes, additional landscaping and other matters.

"The vote was six in favour of the motion to approve the application, and four against."

Read more: All the latest news from Deal