Four luxury holiday chalets and up to 20 rural shops are being created in the multi-million pound transformation of an equestrian centre near Faversham.

The work is underway at Willow Farm in Hansletts Lane, Ospringe, which has planning permission for the expansion and is expected to create dozens of new jobs.

Also to be built will be one of the biggest outdoor equestrian arenas in the country, measuring 90m by 60m.

Site owner Kelly Childs says the timber clad two-bed chalets are expected to be completed by April next year and will offer visitors, who do not need to be riders, a luxurious stay in the countryside with many facilities on site.

“We are investing millions over the next three years and it will be great for the local area as well as Faversham,” said Mr Childs.

“People will see a significant change to the site.

“The farm and rural shops and businesses, which will be like [Faversham foodhall] Macknade in style, will have office space above and we will also be developing a wedding venue.”

Mr Childs has been transforming the site over the past decade and also hopes to turn it into the finest equestrian facility of its kind in Kent with the new sand arena capable of encouraging and accommodating Olympic-standard riders.

Work on the business units will begin next year with the intention to have them complete and occupied by the end of 2023.

“We will be looking for a variety of farm shop and countryside-type enterprises as tenants, like a butchers and perhaps businesses like dog grooming,” said Mr Childs.

Already the site accommodates a cafe and a Gillett and Cook riding tack shop.

Mr Childs says he has worked closely with Swale Borough Council to create a scheme which is sensitive to the countryside.

But Ospringe parish council raised concerns about traffic issues the expansion could create.