A PROPOSED housing estate is set to change the face of a Kent village forever.

The estate will include more than 500 houses and will probably be built on land very near Hoo St Werburgh, near Strood.

The land was allocated for development in 1999 by the Medway Local Plan. The estate will be built to the north east of Bells Lane. It will be landscaped and a section left open for public use.

The estate is set to go up rapidly once Medway Council has approved the plans and improvements to the A228 have been made.

Certain criteria need to be met for the Local Plan including the planting of more trees, keeping the pond and building three access roads on to the estate. Traffic calming measures also need to be in place and footpaths and public walkways must be kept open.

There is still time for residents to give their views on what should be included in the development brief. Residents can send their comments to Nadia Ross, The Compass Centre, Chatham Maritime, Chatham, Kent, ME4 4YH or email nadia.ross@medway.gov.uk