THE towns of Deal and Sandwich and the surrounding villages could have an additional 3,700 homes in 20 years’ time if forecasts are realised.

The East Kent Mercury revealed last week that the area could be on the verge of a housing explosion due to government demands for more land to be earmarked for new homes.

Now principal planning officer Adrian Fox has explained that of the various options being considered by the district council’s Local Development Framework group, Option Two is the current favourite. This option would see an additional 1,000 homes, of which 500 would be built in Deal and 500 in Sandwich and the surrounding villages, on top of current trends.

“At the moment, that’s the one we are exploring in detail,” said Mr Fox. “But it is subject to testing and refinement and it may well change.”

If the council took no action, planners are predicting 2,700 homes would be built between now and 2026.

The figure is based on projections from land allocations under the existing Dover District Local Plan, brownfield sites and sites which the council cannot plan for, known as windfall sites.

“But this is a big assumption, on the basis that all those sites come forward,” said Mr Fox.

In the Dover district overall, Option Two’s total is 10,000 new homes, of which 4,700 are forecasted anyway and 5,300 are additional. The majority would be built near Dover.

Mr Fox said that the Local Development Framework process was in the very early stages.

Proposals are being guided by the South East Plan, which is being prepared in parallel by the South East England Regional Assembly, under guidelines from Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott.

Densities would probably be around 35 to 55 homes per hectare.

“We cannot yet give a definitive answer as where or how much development will take place in Deal, as we are only exploring options at this stage,” said Mr Fox.

There will be a six-week public consultation in the spring followed by another in early 2007.

FULL STORY IN THIS WEEK'S EAST KENT MERCURY