A drive-thru McDonald’s, B&M and Food Warehouse are all set to launch on the outskirts of a Kent town.

Kitewood Estates has this week revealed the big-name chains will be added to Altira Business Park in Broomfield, Herne Bay, as it moves ahead with plans to expand the shopping complex and build 67 homes nearby.

Bosses from the development company say the scheme will create 90 construction jobs and more than 110 roles at the new businesses.

They claim the project will have “character and identity”, having unveiled eye-catching images showing their vision for the site.

“It offers the opportunity to create an exciting, flagship development with an overarching vision to deliver jobs and much-needed new homes in Herne Bay,” the firm states.

“The intention of the design is to deliver a development with a character and identity sympathetic to the existing area and connecting directly with the neighbouring road.

“The commercial element of the scheme will create a more attractive offering at Altira and encourage linked shopping trips.

“The occupiers are B&M, including a garden centre, specialist frozen food operator Food Warehouse and a McDonald’s drive-thru.

“The proposed builder’s merchant will sell a wide range of materials primarily to the local tradesmen.”

Altira already houses a Sainsbury’s superstore, petrol station, Snap gym, driving test centre and a branch of Screwfix.

Meanwhile, the housing scheme - which is earmarked for land at Blacksole Farm - will include 21 affordable homes.

Kitewood, which has drawn up the plans with fellow developer Urban and Civic, says the estate will consist of 18 two- and three-bedroom properties.

Parking will be built in place of Blacksole Farmhouse and its outbuildings.

A key “landmark” four-storey building is also proposed by the access road roundabout, which will contain 49 one- and two-bedroom flats.

Kitewood stresses the proposal seeks to fully integrate the existing pedestrian and cycle route connecting Altira Park through to the Margate Road.

But residents have taken to Facebook to say new homes are not needed in the town.

Susan Robinson wrote: “We do not need more homes.

"It offers the opportunity to create an exciting, flagship development..."

“The roundabout leading to Sainsbury’s is ridiculously small and dangerous.

“If they go ahead with housing they really need to think about better access.

“But I think it would be better to have more business development there, more jobs for locals.”

Another social media user noted the town required more “doctors, dentists and school places” before more properties are built in the Bay.

“No more houses”, agreed Jill Patterson.

“The area has houses popping up all over the place that locals can’t afford.

“There’s no extra infrastructure being put in to support all these new builds.”

Kitewood has published - along with the new CGIs - details for public comment on the next phase of the company’s masterplan for the site, ahead of lodging an application with Canterbury City Council.

It recently dedicated part of the Blacksole Farm site to Kent County Council’s highways team to enable the delivery of a footway on Margate Road.

The path has long been called for by residents and councillors to improve safety for those crossing the route.

The firm says it has also been working closely with the city council on the emerging draft Local Plan to include other sites at Altira Park for future development “to ensure its long-term vitality and viability”.

One of those is the piece of scrubland behind Sainsbury’s.