Hundreds of residents have signed a petition against plans for 70 homes amid fears their village will be swamped by development.

London-based Kitewood wants to build on land off Ringwould Road in Kingsdown near Deal.

But those living in the village have launched a campaign called Kingsdown SOS (Stop Outward Sprawl) in opposition to the project.

Plans are yet to be submitted to Dover District Council (DDC), but the land at Woodhill Farm has been earmarked for 50 homes in the authority’s Local Plan.

Resident Jez Hermer, who launched the petition, fears the village will be unable to cope with more homes.

“We want to preserve our village's character and charm rather than seeing it turn into a future conurbation of Deal and Walmer,” he said.

“Kingsdown, known to many as a picturesque, iconic, former fishing village, is under serious threat.

“This housing expansion will completely eradicate the unique character that makes our village a place of charm and history.”

Kitewood held a public exhibition detailing its plans in mid-November, and the petition, which now has almost 800 signatures, was launched on December 3.

Two days later, a public meeting, with 150 people attending and organised by SOS, was also held.

Kitewood plans to submit a planning application to DDC this month and has already presented its plans to Kingsdown and Ringwould Parish Council.

If planning permission is granted, building work would start six to nine months later.

The development, set to feature one, two, three and four-bedroom homes, would be completed in about three years.

Kitewood says 49 homes would be for the open market and 21 (30%) would be ‘affordable’.

In all, 170 parking spaces are planned, including 14 for visitors.

But villager Graeme Endacott says the area is “wholly unsuitable for any increase in traffic volume”.

“This development is proposed to be built on a narrow country lane with blind bends and narrow access,” he said.

“The village has a campsite and holiday park, and visitor numbers swell the local population and clog the roads between March and September currently.

“Kingsdown’s main through routes do not have pavements and are extremely narrow which are all part of its charm, but are totally unsuitable to cope with expansion.

“This is an accident waiting to happen.”

Kitewood says there would be a new access point to Ringwould Road, due to the rural and narrow nature of the existing road.

The scheme would be on a 8.8-acre site of farmland and would include about 2.8 acres of open space and landscaping.

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

All viable trees and hedges would be kept and enhanced, bosses say.

The parish council declined to comment because the planning application has not yet been submitted.

Kitewood also did not want to comment.