An application to demolish a house and build 38 new homes on land behind it has been rejected.

But building work on a smaller separate site in Whitfield just a few hundred metres down the road can begin after its plans were approved.

Councillors discussed the plans off Archers Court Road – turning down the larger development over concerns about an access road near Newlands.

This was meant to be part of the Whitfield Urban Expansion (WUE), a long-term housing development project for the area near Dover.

Committee members voted against it, contrary to the officers’ recommendation, because of concerns over getting to the site and traffic.

Neighbours feared an impact on the local road network, including the permanently busy Whitfield roundabout and believed the approach would not be be safe.

Cllr James Back told the Dover District Council planning committee meeting last Thursday: “The access should be through Richmond Park as most of the WUE site lies within the Richmond Park development. The Whitfield roundabout won’t be upgraded until 2026.”

Cllr Jeff Loffman said: “The harm to Archers Court Road and to accompanying roads is going to be felt.”

The council planning portal showed that 38 of the 40 residents’ comments were against the scheme.

Alex Cox described Whitfield roundabout as “an accident hot spot” claiming incidents happen on a “weekly basis” adding with more traffic using the junction it would “only continue to get worse”.

Martin Stuart said: “We have been looking at relocating to the Dover or Folkestone area and have been put off by Whitfield by the substantial increase of housing currently being built.”

The application is by KLN Development of Tilmanstone and 30% of the homes would be affordable, the developers said.

A planning statement on its behalf from designers The One Architecture of Tilmanstone, said: “It is acknowledged that this will result in increased traffic onto Archers Court Road and additional pressure on the current Whitfield roundabout.

“But when set against the overall increase in development proposed in Whitfield it is considered the effect from the application scheme is likely to be modest.”

Kent County Council's highways department raised no objection, subject to a contribution towards the improvement of the Whitfield roundabout.

The Whitfield Urban Expansion is a plan to eventually create up to 6,350 homes in the area by 2040.

The second application, accepted by councillors, is a detailed reserved matters scheme for 28 homes sandwiched between the A2, Courtland Avenue and Archers Court Road which is not part of the WUE.

Officers, again recommending approval, said the development was acceptable in terms of its appearance, landscaping, layout and scale.

They added they did not believe it would have an adverse effect on the character and appearance of the area or neighbours and future residents.

This application had nine written objections from locals who had concerns about increased traffic and loss of wildlife space.