Prince William is pushing ahead with his father's plan to build a 2,500-home "garden city" on prime Kent farmland.

The Duchy of Cornwall - which the Prince of Wales now heads following King Charles' accession - is poised to build a sprawling development in Faversham.

Bosses at the royal estate have spent four years masterminding the mammoth proposals for 320 acres to the south-east of the town, as they set about creating a fully sustainable estate.

The long-mooted scheme continues to face stiff opposition from campaigners calling on the Duchy to scrap the vision - yet a formal planning application is anticipated to be submitted next year.

The new homes would stretch from Salters Lane all the way up to the Brenley Corner junction, with a primary school, cricket pitch, shops and business spaces all being created.

Due to the land being allocated for housing in Swale Borough Council's draft Local Plan, there is a likelihood - and sense of "inevitably" among residents - that the scheme will become reality.

Critics have accused the Prince of Wales - and previously King Charles - of going against their environmental beliefs as they press ahead with the huge housing development.

However, the Duchy has previously stressed its confidence in how the "landscape-led" project will "strengthen people’s connections to nature" and insists it will be of benefit to the area.

Long-term Faversham resident Mark Sewell begs to differ, and hopes the Prince will get involved with the planning process.

"I've emailed and written to Prince William but I haven't had a reply," Mr Sewell said.

"He is a younger and more modern royal who may be more sympathetic to the environmental damage that will be caused if this development continues.

"But I haven't had a response.

"The farmland is so rich in biodiversity and this scheme will destroy habitats. So many protected species will be lost - there are bats, lizards, butterflies and wild orchids. It's so sad.

"I have concerns about losing such good farmland. In the current climate, we need food self-security. Farmland should be kept in operation at all costs."

The Duchy, which prides itself on striving to “nurture and improve” its land, acquired the sprawling plot to the south-east of the town about 20 years ago.

It stresses how the new development can "become one of the most walkable in the UK" due its interlinking network of green pathways and corridors.

The estate - envisaged to be "net-zero carbon" - is planned to produce a 20% biodiversity net gain, with new wildlife habitats and green spaces being made accessible.

Speaking this week, estates director Ben Murphy said: “We aim to address housing shortages in Faversham and the wider region by providing beautiful, high-quality homes that complement the unique historic character and identity of the town.

“During four years of design work and community consultation, we have created a plan underpinned by our key principles of working with the landscape and existing natural environment to build a sustainable community.

“Our team is very excited to be presenting the plans to the local community, whose feedback at prior events has greatly helped shape what we will be presenting."

Two public exhibitions are now pencilled in for next month, giving residents the chance to view the detailed proposals.

The two events will be hosted at the town's Assembly Rooms on Thursday, November 3 from 12pm until 8pm, and on Saturday, November 5 from 10am until 3pm.

Having taken over the reins, Prince William is now one of England’s biggest landowners. His royal estate is valued at more than £1billion.

A website for the development states: "Beautifully-designed public spaces and streets will be designed around the pedestrian rather than the car, and provide a sense of wellbeing and connection to nature, helping to create a new community that will thrive in the longest term, for people and the planet."