The next phase of new homes at a garden city development has been approved by planners.

Developers Bellway have been granted planning permission for 182 homes at Ebbsfleet Garden City, which will eventually host 15,000 new homes.

Plans for the 11-acre site were accepted by Ebbsfleet Development Corporation to build in the Eastern Quarry area which will be known as Whitecliffe.

It is the second development being built in the Alkerden Village community with work due to begin in April.

The new phase, off Castle Hill Road, will be made up of 75 apartments and 107 houses, of which 136 will be put on the open market and 46 available for rent or shared ownership.

Dan Merriman, land director at Bellway Kent, said: “We are pleased to have received planning consent to start work on these homes at Ebbsfleet Garden City.

"The development will make a significant contribution towards the creation of an attractive new neighbourhood at Alkerden Village.

“Our Whitecliffe development will sit within the north-western part of Alkerden Village, just to the north of the education campus which is currently under construction and just to the east of the Major Urban Park which runs the entire length of the Eastern Quarry site.

“The mix of one to four-bedroom properties has been designed to meet the needs of local housebuyers, with a particular emphasis on catering for the high demand for family homes identified in the 2010 Dartford Strategic Housing Market Assessment.

"Almost a third of the properties at Whitecliffe will have four bedrooms, while the large proportion of two-bedroom houses and apartments will cater for first-time buyers looking to get on the housing ladder."

He added the homes had been designed to take into consideration the overall architectural character of the existing area drawing on farming and industrial heritage.

Mr Merriman said: "The terraced and semi-detached houses will be built using yellow brick inspired by the Swanscombe workers’ cottages located to the north of the site, while the detached houses will be built with red brick in the farmhouse style in a nod to the neighbouring Alkerden Farm."

Architects BPTW drew up the scheme and firm partner Chris Bath said the housing designs had been inspired by the history of workers' cottages, farmhouses and farm buildings from the Swanscombe and Alkerden area.

"The terraced and semi-detached houses will be built using yellow brick inspired by the Swanscombe workers’ cottages..."

He added: "With an important focus on healthy living, homes sit within a lovely green setting and offer connectivity with the landscape."

Work is also due to begin on Bellway's first development in Alkerden Village called Castle Grange which saw planning permission granted for 138 apartments in December.

Once complete, the Alkerden Village will have 1,500 new homes joined with commercial, retail and community facilities.

A new nursery, primary school, secondary school are being built on the Alkerden Education Campus site.

When the Eastern Quarry phase of the garden city is finished – made up of the three villages of Alkerden, Ashmere and Castle Hill – there will be 6,000 homes.