COUNCIL chiefs believe there could be a case for the building of a new village somewhere in the borough of Maidstone to help meet future housing growth.

The radical idea was among suggestions at a council meeting as members expressed concern over "town cramming".

Cllr Dan Daley (Lib Dem), the cabinet member for regeneration, was answering questions about his future vision at an environment and transportation scrutiny committee meeting.

He said there was a need for sustainable rural communities that had the necessary infrastructure, amenities, employment and housing opportinities to improve the quality of life and prosperity of residents

Cllr Daley stressed that problems finding enough sites for thousands of new homes being earmarked by the government in urban parts of Maidstone meant residents in rural areas needed to be prepared to accept some development.

"There are quite a few challenges both for the council and for the people who live here because a lot of changes are going to be demanded," Cllr Daley said.

"In urban areas there is a degree of cramming of houses on some brown sites previously earmarked for employment. It means there will have to be a change of view and attitude to some building in the countryside as time progresses."

The council is also facing severe pressure to attract top calibre high wage firms to Maidstone to stop it becoming a dormitory town. The loss of employment land to housing means there is a shortage of suitable brown field sites beyond 2008.

Asked by Cllr Hugh Laing (Lib Dem) if the time had come to "bite the bullet," given the impact of "town cramming," and build a new village within the borough Cllr Daley said a debate needed to begin.

He said: "It seems fairly sensible if we're thinking about having to put this number of houses in Maidstone borough. There needs to be some form of seminar or discussion in the near future."

Interim town hall discussions have taken place about allowing "modest" development on the edge of existing large villages, with those communities to the south of Maidstone town the most likely candidates.

It might bring previously rejected proposals such as the 1,300 home Broomfield Park development on 130 acres of farmland near Leeds Castle back into the frame.