Controversial plans for hundreds of new homes in a beauty spot area are back.

The Supreme Court had thrown out the scheme for Farthingloe, Dover, last year after a long legal and planning wrangle.

But the developers are back with a revised plan including fewer homes - 500-plus rather than 600-plus.

The houses and flats are proposed for brownfield land which had temporary housing for Channel Tunnel building workers.

Dover and Deal MP Charlie Elphicke, who supports the appllcation, recently met China Gateway International operations director Rob Prince on the site off the B2011.

Mr Prince said: “I want to give priority to Dovorians who want to get on the housing ladder. I care about Dover being a town on the up and giving young people a chance to buy their first home.

“This will be a development with affordable housing that will benefit the people of Dover.”

The newly-altered plans reduce the amount of residential units planned for the Western Heights from 94 to 40.

Less land is being developed at Farthingloe and the height of buildings in the south west corner is also being reduced.

Mr Princes plans are now down to 521 one to four-bedroomed houses and flats.

He says on the market right now a two-bedroomed house would be on sale for around £200,000 and a three-bedroomed one about £250,000. Flats would probably cost from £100,000.

Mr Elphicke said: “Everyone knows we need to build more homes so young people and renters have a chance to get on the housing ladder.

“We all want Dover and Deal to be a place where you can get a job, have a home to call your own and raise a family.

“So I’m delighted with these ambitious plans to build these affordable homes.

The project also includes repairs and restoration work to historic structures at the Western Heights, including St Martin’s Battery the Guard Room and Officer and Soldiers’ Quarters.

The Drop Redoubt will be converted into a museum and visitor centre.

There will be improvements to the landscaping around the Grand Shaft pedestrian connections with the Drop Redoubt.

This would include a reinstated swing bridge to create a safe visitor entrance.

A 130-bed hotel is also proposed.

Dover District Council's planning committee had voted for the original scheme in April 2015.

That was fought by the Campaign to Protect Rural England and the Appeal Court ruled in the CPRE's favour in September 2016.

Both the council and developers challenged that via the Supreme Court but it ruled against the application last December.

The CPRE had argued that the development, then for 521 homes and a 90-apartment retirement village, was in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.