Housing developers have been accused of trying to maximise profits by squeezing more homes onto a planned estate in Herne Bay.

Stonebond was given the green light in September to build 160 properties off Bullockstone Road - an area surrounded by land already lined up for development or under construction.

The site had been earmarked for 190 homes by Canterbury City Council in its housing blueprint - known as a Local Plan - but the developer applied for fewer as it promised to deliver a “lower-density, landscape-led” project.

But now fresh plans have emerged to increase the total homes by 10%, sparking claims Stonebond is “trying to squeeze a lot into a small space”.

Those are the words of Carol Davis, the chairwoman of Herne and Broomfield Parish Council.

“It just seems to me they're maximising their profits, aren't they?” she adds.

“It's the same piece of land so it means they're just squashing them closer together.

“The same issues of lack of doctors, impact on traffic and other infrastructure voids still apply.”

In papers submitted to the city council, Stonebond says increasing the number of homes on the land to 176 will help the authority meet its housebuilding targets.

It adds the properties will be built “within the same development footprint to make the most efficient use of the site”, which is called Northwood.

A Stonebond spokesperson said. “In response to local market need, we have redesigned some of the homes so they are reduced in size, meaning we can provide more of them without reducing public open space.

“It is worth highlighting that the Local Authority originally allocated this site to provide 190 new homes, and should these additional 16 homes be approved, it would still be significantly under that density.

“Additionally, we’re very pleased to confirm that this development is already delivering 100 new affordable homes, more than double the number required as part of the planning permission.”

Stonebond says it has entered into a partnership with an affordable housing provider to take on 64 of the properties as additional affordable homes, alongside the mandatory 30%.

In response to the initial 160-home bid, the NHS requested a £138,240 contribution towards the development of Heron Medical Practice, Beltinge and Reculver Surgery and Park Surgery.

Work began at the end of last year and could take about three-and-a-half years.

Stonebond says it will contribute to the city council’s community infrastructure levy, money from which can go towards schools, transport and health and social care improvements.

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The company is also leading the development of 78 homes further along Bullockstone Road, at the former driving range. The plans were approved in 2022.

When that scheme was given the go-ahead, the contentious decision was met with ire as residents branded it “ridiculous” and “unbelievable”.

In all, four housing estates are earmarked or under construction on land off Bullockstone Road.

The Redrow estate at the former Herne Bay Golf Club will have 580 homes when it is completed, while Countryside Properties are set to put a further 800 homes on land at Strode Farm.