Developers are pressing ahead with plans for a 180-home development - which supporters say will "breathe new life" into the town.

The first images have been revealed of a long-mooted project earmarked for land south of Beltinge on the outskirts of Herne Bay by Kitewood this week.

The firm's outline plans for the scheme were given the green light by Canterbury City Council two years ago, despite fears construction traffic would "destroy" the village.

But now ward councillor Ian Stockley believes the scheme will give the area a much-needed financial boost.

“It will produce prosperity, and it will undoubtedly produce more traffic," the Conservative said.

"Herne Bay has for a very long time been a fairly relaxed retirement town, so this really is breathing new life into the area.

“There will be a lot of people who do not want new life breathed into the area, but for it to maintain its services like doctors, like dentists and all the rest of it, we need this to happen.”

The pictures were unveiled in detailed proposals for the development lodged with the local authority.

Papers show the new homes will be a "variety of two-storey detached, semi-detached and terraced houses, as well as four blocks of flats".

They also say the site will be “split into two distinct areas", separated by open green space.

When the plans for the estate first came to light three years ago, they attracted almost 300 objections from locals.

Resident Veronica Lewis said at the time: "We aren’t going to stand for this.

"The village can be at gridlock sometimes now, so there will be absolute havoc if big lorries are allowed to start running through it.

"When this surfaced before, people were really angry and they will be now.

“Not because of the fact houses will be built, but because they’re going to run traffic through our village and destroy it."

The plot is part of the larger Hillborough site, which has been earmarked for two separate schemes totalling 1,250 homes.

Kitewood details in its newly-released planning papers that its project will form "part of the major extension to the coastal area of Herne Bay".

It also says nearly half of its site will be "shared open green space", giving residents access to “communal parkland and play zones”.

Documents reveal the company will contribute money for a new primary school, as part of developer contributions.

Cllr Stockley has represented the views of villagers in his ward in recent talks with Kitewood.

“We have found that Kitewood appear to be quite receptive to our concerns," he added.

"You’ve got to be a bit cautious, though, because most of these illustrations are not plans, they're illustrative, which means they’re not necessarily showing the density of housing that will be produced.

“So, sometimes you’ll look at them and think 'goodness me, there's an acre a garden each', and in reality there isn’t.”

Cllr Stockley says Kitewood originally intended on demolishing two bungalows in Osborne Gardens - a road located to the north of the site - but that after meeting with neighbours, it decided not to do so.