Concerned residents fear their “lovely” Kent village is being transformed into a town after a London developer unveiled plans for 445 homes.

Property company Danescroft argues a new estate sprawling the size of 20 football pitches in Whitfield near Dover will supply “beautiful” houses to meet soaring demand.

But the Camden firm’s hopes to build on land south of Church Whitfield Road have faced a backlash since a planning application was submitted three weeks ago.

Venting her views with Dover District Council (DDC), Simone Wigmore wrote: “You are taking a lovely village and trying to turn it into a town.

“The roads are already chaos during school drop-off and pick-up times.

“Many people in the village chose to live here as it was quiet, has fields and woodlands to walk around.”

Danescroft put in the plans on December 20, seeking full planning permission for 88 homes, and outline permission for 357 more.

Under the proposal, 134 properties – 30% – will be earmarked as affordable housing, Danescroft says.

But Whitfield resident Marc Stanley stressed he is “bitterly disappointed” with the district council which, he claims, is behind a “constant push for development” without taking notice of residents’ views.

“Whitfield's Infrastructure in its entirety isn't sufficient to cope with the continual development of the village into a town.

“The village is becoming more like Hawkinge and will soon lose its village status/identity,” he argued.

Twenty years ago Whitfield hosted about 1,800 homes.

But today 5,750 are slated for the formerly modest-sized parish under the district council’s local plan.

These plans set out where developments, such as housing, schools, shops or factories, should be built.

The council must meet "advisory" government housing targets unless it can provide "rigorous" evidence as to why it cannot do so, Housing Secretary Michael Gove MP said in December.

As well as homes, Whitfield has seen investment for the Dover Fastrack bus service - a new zero-emission rapid bus route.

The area already hosts two schools and a large retail park with two supermarkets, while plans are also in place for a new doctors’ surgery.

But Jean Sheppard, a resident of 40 years, says the village has become a “building frenzy”.

“I could not believe this planning application to yet again overload Whitfield with this many new houses, and the taking away of the land surrounding what was a village when we moved here over 40 years ago,” she wrote.

“Speaking to fellow residents, people seem amazed that this building frenzy around Whitfield is being allowed by the parish council and the district council when the infrastructure promised with the first new building still has not been completed.”

Ms Sheppard pointed the finger at a “promised doctor surgery” and “improved road network which is now getting worse”.

Jodie Canneaux added: “This overcrowding needs to stop now, this once beautiful village is being destroyed.”

Of the affordable homes, 10 will consist of one-bedroom flats, eight will be two-bedroom flats, two will be maisonettes, four will be two-bedroom houses, and two will be four-bedroom houses.

Danescroft stresses the estate will also be a “low carbon, resilient, joyful, green and beautiful place to live, enjoy and visit”.

The development "will gradually shape into a beautiful new neighbourhood integrated as part of Whitfield,” the firm says.

“This will be complemented with a sustainable travel plan and a range of on-site and off-site highways improvements."

As the 357 homes are subject only to an outline application, their exact design and layout will be dealt with through later planning applications.

It is not yet known when DDC’s planning committee will meet to decide on the application, but an internal deadline of April 27 has been set.

Last year, residents spoke out after it emerged the village is set to double in size as plans for the Whitfield Urban Expansion gathers pace.

It comes as KentOnline shone a spotlight on the county’s housing crisis, as families struggle with rising mortgage payments, rents – and getting on the property ladder.

Close to 12,000 new homes – the equivalent of 1,000 a month – will need to be built in the county every year if government housing targets are to be met.

And with the last annual figure for new builds revealing just 6,820 were built during 2021/22 – according to the Office for National Statistics – the county is set to fall far short of expectation.