Maidstone council is on course to exceed its housing targets, a new analysis of its property supply position has indicated.

The borough assessed its latest position in April and is on course to build 19,325 homes in the current Local Plan period to 2031.

This is 765 more than its “objectively assessed housing need” of 18,560.

Rob Jarman, head of Maidstone’s planning and development, said it was common for councils to have a higher supply than the target– allowing a contingency for sites which might not be developed.

He added: “During his examination of the Local Plan, the inspector will hear arguments from all sides about the housing land supply. Some will argue it is too high, some too low.

“It is for the Inspector to conclude once he has heard all the arguments.”

Crucially the council has now determined it has the five-year housing supply required by the government under the National Planning Policy Framework.

It means it can now be more selective when determining plans, ensuring schemes meet other criteria. When the borough could not show a five-year supply, it had to greenlight all applications unless the negative impacts were severe.

From 2015-2016, 521 new homes were completed across Maidstone, up from 413 the previous year. Another 5,763 homes were granted permission.

Maidstone’s draft Local Plan needs to provide 5,800 affordable homes by 2031 and the council is on course to provide 5,350. It said it was confident the slight shortfall would be met by registered social housing providers.

Cllr John Perry (Con), planning committee chairman, said: “Achieving a five-year housing supply is good news. It’s a very important target to reach.”