Prince William’s estate revealed its 2,500 homes development will be the country’s largest eco-village.

Solar panel roofs and heat pumped up from the ground will power airtight houses throughout the Faversham estate.

The Duchy of Cornwall claims its state-of-the-art battery-powered homes – dubbed South East Faversham – will produce zero emissions.

If Swale Borough Council (SBC) approves the plans, it will take about 20 years to build by delivering up to 150 homes each year.

The UK has pledged to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050.

More than half of the area will be green space, including public parks, wildflower meadows, community orchards, woodlands, and allotments.

Ben Murphy, estate director, says their blueprints contain a “beautifully designed neighbourhood that prioritises the needs and aspirations of Faversham people”.

“South East Faversham will be a mixed community, delivering a wide range of affordable and attainable homes that will be integrated with a diverse variety of commercial and community uses, providing opportunities for education and employment in a high-quality environment,” he said.

“At this moment, there is a growing number of vulnerable people and families in the area grappling with something many of us take for granted - the security of having a roof over our heads.

“We are committed to providing long-term housing solutions in a community that will also create many opportunities for people to live active, healthy and sustainable lives.”

The Duchy, which is headed up by Prince William, claims the development will generate at least 20% fewer car trips compared to estates of a similar size.

It acquired the sprawling plot sandwiched between the M2 and A2 about 20 years ago and has been in public consultation for five years.

The master plan was unveiled in response to a call from SBC to landowners for potential housing sites back in 2018.

The new homes it proposed stretch from Salters Lane to the Brenley Corner junction.

The Duchy plans on slashing greenhouse gasses by making South East Faversham one of the most walkable destinations in the country.

An independent assessment by Space Syntax and Andy Cameron found it will generate at least 20% fewer car trips compared to neighbourhoods of similar size.

This is intended to support residents’ mental health and wellbeing while delivering a 20% net gain in biodiversity by encouraging the development of new wildlife habitats on and off the site.

The Duchy says the neighbourhood will be one of the most sustainable ever developed.

Low-carbon natural materials will be used in its construction as well as solar panels and heat pumps.

There will be a ‘smart grid’, which is a network of private cables allowing the generation, storage and consumption of electricity to be connected and controlled centrally to ensure the site operates as efficiently as possible.

It is connected to the public network which allows electricity to be purchased when the ‘smart grid’ is unable to meet all the demand.

The Duchy says residents will see significant cost savings through purchasing from the network compared to traditional utility providers but they have the choice to opt out.

Find out about planning applications that affect you by visiting the Public Notice Portal.

Plans include at least 875 affordable homes - in line with housing policy requirements - and at least 400 will be socially rented homes.

The affordable homes will also include shared ownership and the Duchy is engaging a range of specialist housing providers including The Faversham Community Land Trust and various housing charities dedicated to tackling homelessness.

There will also be a water recycling centre where wastewater can be treated and disposed of safely without entering, and adding strain to, the existing sewage system.

Water from the recycling centre will be treated for reuse around the site, according to plans.

A planning application is understood to have been submitted to SBC earlier in December but is yet to appear publicly.