Developers have revealed plans to bolster the number of homes at a new housing estate in Faversham - bringing the total up to 400.

The Anderson Group, which is behind the 330-home Faversham Lakes scheme off Oare Road, wants to build 70 additional houses, a community centre and playing field on land to the south of the site.

The firm, which has invested £40 million into constructing the 131-acre estate so far, hopes to lodge plans with Swale Borough Council for the expansion early in the new year.

A spokesman for the company said: “As a multi-award-winning scheme, the site has already established itself as one of the region’s best and most tranquil locations to live and raise a family.

“We are looking to build on this success and provide an additional phase of development to deliver further community facilities alongside housing of a respectful density and scale for the area.

“We are keen to work with residents and their representatives to ensure we get the balance right.”

Revealing the plans at a Faversham Town Council meeting on Monday, Anderson land and planning director Tom Chilvers said there is also the potential to build a children’s play area in the vacant space, which is opposite Davington Primary School.

Other community assets include an extended car park for Davington Primary School and a new scout troop headquarters.

There will also be a heritage centre, retail units and a community theatre when the development is complete.

There are plans to introduce a “heritage greenway” path that will lead walkers and cyclists from the Oare Road and Ham Road junction to the heritage centre at the heart of the estate.

It comes after a 50-acre country park was launched at the estate in October.

The park boasts footpaths and circular walks as well as reed beds, lagoons, wildlife habitats, bird hides and planting.

At the opening, Mayor of Swale Cllr Simon Clark said: “Getting the balance of new homes, affordability and quality open space is never easy, but this scheme shows what can be achieved with planning and commitment.”

“It’s great to see a development delivering improvements for the wider community, and the opening to the public now – almost exactly halfway through the delivery of new homes – is a real milestone to be celebrated.

“This incredible park will provide a fabulous space for local people to relax and enjoy for years to come.”

In 2021, the housing scheme was labelled the "UK's best large development" at the First Time Buyer Readers’ Awards.

The project won praise for expanding on the concept of boundless living, with all of its houses having open-plan design as well as the idea of “bringing the outside in”.

The site was originally developed as a gunpowder works, supplying firepower from the 16th century for both military purposes and the blasting of canals and railways.

The facility closed down in 1934 owing to its vulnerability to an air attack, and following military use during the Second World War, it was repurposed for mineral extraction use by Brett Aggregates.

Supplies of aggregates were exhausted in the late 2000s and outline planning permission for the 330-home residential development and creation of a country park was given the green light in 2017.

Anderson took over the development in 2018. It stretches up to the East Kent Recycling site and neighbours Oare Windmill and Davington Primary School.