A controversial bid to more than double the size of a proposed housing estate is set to be decided by planning inspectors.

Developers have already secured outline permission for 110 homes on farmland off Sandwich Road in Deal and hope to get the green light for a further 155 on a neighbouring plot bordering Mongeham Road.

But a decision on the second application – which has been branded “ludicrous” and “unacceptable” by opponents – has now been taken out of the hands of Dover District Council.

The authority has dragged its heels in making a ruling on the bid - which was submitted in May last year - allowing Richborough Estates to appeal to the Planning Inspectorate on the grounds of “non-determination”.

It means the government body will decide whether to approve the plans, with the council having less say in any contributions the developer must make to offset the impact on local infrastructure.

If given the green light, it will see more than 300 homes built in the area, as permission has already been secured by a separate developer for 42 properties on another nearby site.

Any approval of Richborough’s 155-home bid is likely to anger those who fiercely opposed the plan when it was first submitted last spring, including Deal Town Council, Sholden Parish Council and Great Mongeham Parish Council.

KCC Highways also recommended it be refused, saying it would “create a severe impact on the local highway network, to the detriment of highway safety”.

It believed the added weight of traffic along the road, with more pedestrian crossings, could cause a “rat-run” effect that would increase travel time by more than 30 seconds during morning and afternoon rush hours.

There were also concerns the additional homes would put more pressure on local resources, with the NHS Kent and Medway CCG saying it expected almost 400 new registrations at GPs in the area.

As such, the healthcare body said developers should pay a total of £133,920 to mitigate the impact the new homes would have.

This money would, it said, go towards refurbishing any of the local surgeries or towards a new GP practice in the area.

The original proposal sparked 22 comments from members of the public - all but one of which were objections.

Keith Rawlings described the proposal as “ludicrous”, and said the house-building situation in the Deal area was “completely out of control”.

“Planners have to take more responsibility and notice of the views of residents,” he added.

“The town is full. I object most forcefully.”

Michael Jowett added: “There is currently planning permission for 152 properties at Sholden - there is no need for any more.

“Doctors, dentists, schools and other infrastructure are not sufficient.

"There is not one good reason to encroach further onto prime arable land behind London Road, Hall Crescent and Mongeham Road.”