More farmland could be transformed into houses after developers officially launched a bid to erect 154 properties on the outskirts of Faversham.

Firm Fernham Homes has this week lodged plans with Swale Borough Council to build the complex – which will also feature three shops, a nursery, a care home and playing fields – off Love Lane.

The scheme has been earmarked for 36 acres of land at Lady Dane Farm – a stone’s throw from a separate 284-home site.

Planning papers say: “The proposals have been developed to secure the best proposal for the site and its locality.

“It will contribute in a positive way towards Faversham and its character.

“The development of this land would create a sustainable development comprising of high-quality homes, a care home and a day nursery.”

Developers say there will also be “publicly accessible open spaces and areas for informal play, as well as equipped play areas”.

Fernham stresses that part of the plot could also be sectioned off for the construction of a two-form-entry primary school.

In all, 35% of the homes will be classed as affordable – which means they will be available for rent or purchase at four-fifths of the local market value.

Fernham expects these units to be “smaller properties consisting of one and two-bedroom apartments and maisonettes”.

“Access to the site will be achieved through two new priority junctions to the east of Love Lane,” the documents add.

“These will serve the main spine roads, which will be provided with a number of side roads to the north and south to provide access to the homes, nursery, care home, industrial units, offices and school.”

The site, which is owned by the Vinson Trust, has already been earmarked for mixed-use development in the Local Plan, which is the borough’s housing blueprint.

Fernham’s application is seeking full planning permission for the first 84 homes, along with three shops.

Meanwhile, the developer has also put forward outline proposals for the rest of the scheme, the details for which will be finalised through further submissions to the local authority.

Activist Carol Smith, of the Farms, Fields & Fresh Air: Faversham Facebook page, railed against the plans following a virtual meeting held by Fernham in November.

“There are many things that concern us about these plans, which are on land used to grow blackcurrants,” she said.

“The Garden of Kent is quickly disappearing under more and more concrete and our soft and fruit farming heritage is being lost.”

Company Crest Nicholson Eastern started building 196 homes on a separate plot to the north of Fernham’s site at the Lady Dane Farm two years ago.

But earlier this year, it unveiled proposals to expand its estate by erecting a further 88 properties on another chunk of the farm.