Plans to build the UK’s first garden city for more than 100 years in north Kent have been criticised as only 79 homes out of the proposed 15,000 have been built.

Chancellor George Osborne revealed his plans to build a new town at Ebbsfleet, between Gravesend and Dartford, back in 2014 and committed £310 million to building infrastructure for the new homes in November.

However, architect Richard Rogers, a former government adviser on cities who was behind Ashford Designer Outlet, told the Guardian: “They shouldn’t be building down there. East London still has masses of brownfield land, so why are we building 15 miles out? This is not a sustainable option.”

The Ebbsfleet Development Corporation (EDC), the body set up to masterplan the area, waived off the criticism, saying it is still consulting with the public on where houses should be built in the area.

It is due to reveal details of its masterplan in the spring.

However, many developers jumped on comments made by the organisation’s chairman Michael Cassidy to the Guardian, in which he apparently disparaged the standard of homes.

EDC sacked its chief executive Robin Cooper last month.

“It needs to be better quality housing,” said Mr Cassidy.

“Garden cities have the generosity of space between buildings and have features that make people feel comfortable and welcome, rather than just stacks and stacks of similar houses.”

House builders have leapt to the defence of Sevenoaks-based Ward Homes, the only company to have built any homes since the garden city plans were unveiled.

Mark Quinn, director of housing developer Quinn Estates, based in Canterbury, said: “It could be more ambitious with the architecture but I don’t think you should shoot a company down for following a tried-and-tested formula when you are starting a scheme.

“It could be more ambitious with the architecture but I don’t think you should shoot a company down for following a tried-and-tested formula when you are starting a scheme..." - Mark Quinn, Quinn Estates

“You can’t beat up Ward Homes. They are the only people who have had the guts to go in there and do it. They have been brave.

“Ebbsfleet is the right place to create a garden city and it will work.

He added: “Richard Rogers’ idea is flawed. He’s talking tosh. In east London they will build houses as high as they can. I don’t think that works here.

“If you offered him the land, he would keep his hand in his pocket.”

Property consultant Brian Horton, based in Maidstone, said: “Ebbsfleet garden city is a great opportunity to develop much needed homes and provide equally important jobs in Kent.

“It is recognised that the garden city is not an easy site to develop. There is a lot of support public and private investment to help deliver the 15,000 homes and provide new employment opportunities.”