Work on a £250m development on the outskirts of town has been set back by about two years following a series of delays.

When plans for 800 homes at Strode Farm, Herne Bay, were given the go-ahead last May, Hollamby Estates was aiming to start laying foundations for the site by the beginning of 2021.

The firm requires the approval of a number of detailed applications beforehand to pave the way for diggers to move onto the plot.

But more than a year on, these proposals are yet to be submitted to Canterbury City Council.

Hollamby’s Chris Crook said: “We will be taking steps in the coming weeks – not months – to advance the detailed planning applications, and expect to have them with Canterbury by the end of the year.

“If we get the consent in the middle of 2021, then we’ll have the first houses within two years.

“The early groundworks will take place on site within six to nine months of that consent being granted.

“There’s a lot of preparation that has to be done before you can start building houses - there’s nothing unusual with that.”

The four-year saga surrounding the controversial development appeared to have finally drawn to a close after the High Court upheld a decision to approve the proposals 13 months ago.

The city council sought a judicial review after then Secretary of State for Housing James Brokenshire gave the green light Hollamby’s plans.

But Justice Ian Dove concluded he was “entirely satisfied” with the minister’s judgement.

However, the coronavirus pandemic has presented another barrier to the project’s progress.

“It has slipped back due to the Covid-19 crisis,” Mr Crook continued.

“We’re talking to development partners on Strode Farm about how best to take it forward.

“Not surprisingly, everybody in the property sector at the moment is being very cautious, so things aren’t moving forward as quickly as they would otherwise do.

“It is disappointing but everybody’s in the same boat or worse, but you’ve just got to get on with the job.”

Strode Farm is the latest development in the town to have been impacted by the pandemic.

Construction on the local authority’s revamp of the former Tivoli arcade in Central Parade is predicted to begin 18 months behind original expectations.

Meanwhile, work on the 50-home regeneration of Herne Bay bus depot has been delayed until the autumn.

Hollamby’s 450-home in Greenhill, called Thornden Wood Village, was also recommended for approval by planning officers this week.

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