A controversial proposal for 800 new homes in Herne could end in a “pretty awful outcome”, councillors fear.

Officers from the city council missed a deadline for determining the Strode Farm application, giving developer Hollamby Estates the chance to appeal.

It now means a decision on the scheme – which is included in the draft local plan – is out of council control.

Planning committee members discussed the proposal at a meeting at the Guildhall in Canterbury on Tuesday night.

Cllr Nick Eden-Green (Lib Dem) said: “I am very unhappy that what we are doing is putting something forward in a local plan, which has gone right the way through the process, and then we are handing the whole matter over to the Planning Inspectorate.

“If the Planning Inspectorate looks at our plan and sees that we are turning it down for whatever reason, we could get a very bad outcome indeed – we have had that happen in the past.

“I would have thought that had we had a sensible, round-table discussion with officers and developers, we might have been able to thrash out a compromise.

“I think we are going to end with a frankly pretty awful outcome, and I don’t like it.”

Hollamby submitted an application to the city council last summer for the Strode Farm site, dubbed Lower Herne Village.

But after the council missed the deadline to make a decision on it, the developer was able to appeal to the Planning Inspectorate.

"It’s very disappointing indeed that we find it necessary to appeal for the non-determination, particularly at a time of great housing need..." - Chris Crook

Highways officials had opposed the scheme, citing issues over safe access to the site by road.

Developers have also submitted a duplicate application to the city council which, if approved before, would see the often-lengthy appeal process halted.

Hollamby’s development manager, Chris Crook, told the meeting: “It’s very disappointing indeed that we find it necessary to appeal for the non-determination, particularly at a time of great housing need.

"The way we see it is that the Herne relief road, a new primary school, and other contributions for libraries and footpaths should leave a balance to provide for housing.

“I would respectfully ask, if it was at all possible, to have senior officers and councillors at a workshop to resolve the issue – that would be a way forward.”

Councillors agreed that if they had been able to determine the application on Tuesday, they would have been minded to refuse it. They will also carry out a site visit when the duplicate application comes before the committee.