There are plans to erect thousands of homes on parcels of land sandwiched between three villages.

The suggestion to build 1600 new homes at Ditton comes from the East Malling Trust – a charity which supports horticultural and plant-based research from its 500-acre site.

No formal planning application has been made yet and the proposals were only revealed to the public yesterday.

Residents are now being invited to a consultation event next Thursday to view the scheme.

The new community – to be known as Bradbourne – will include a new two-form entry primary school, shops and open space, and cover approximately 53 hectares. The land is currently in agricultural use.

The proposed site lies between Hermitage Lane and Kiln Barn Road, and is bordered by the Maidstone East railway line to the south and the Quarry Wood Industrial Estate to the north.

It sits partially within each of three parishes: East Malling and Larkfield; Ditton and Aylesford.

The land had previously been identified as "an area of opportunity for residential development" in the last submitted version of the Tonbridge and Malling local plan, although that document itself was rejected by planning inspectors and has not been adopted.

Barming railway station is nearby to the east, while the Orchard Gate housing development sits to the west.

None of the three parish councils has yet had an opportunity to consider the proposals, but say they will do so after attending the consultation event.

East Malling Trust says the development would contain walking and cycling links to the station and include an element of affordable housing.

There are also plans to improve the local road network, including a continuous and alternative east-west link road between Allington and East Malling.

Dr Oliver Doubleday, the chairman of The East Malling Trust, said: "We believe Bradbourne offers an opportunity to deliver a mix of much-needed new homes, including affordable homes, and community facilities, while at the same time improving the local road network, cycle paths and footpaths.

He said: "The project will enable the trust to fulfil its charitable objectives to fund the world-class horticultural science being undertaken by NIAB (National Institute of Agricultural Botany) East Malling, which is helping farmers to manage the impact of climate change and support the nation’s food security.”

The trust is also proposing two off-site road provisions, one in the east linking Hermitage Lane to the A20 near the Poppyfields roundabout; and one in the west, from the site to New Road in East Malling.

It argues that by providing an alternative continuous through road from Allington to East Malling, the traffic on Hermitage Lane, which is already substantial and the cause of much complaint, could be reduced.

Dr Doubleday said the trust would submit an outline planning application to Tonbridge and Malling council later this year.

But the proposals have taken many by surprise including Cllr Robert Cannon (Con), who is one of the Tonbridge and Malling councillors for Ditton.

He said: "This has come as a complete shock – not even the council leader knew anything about it.

"Obviously I haven't yet had a chance to view the plans in detail, but I imagine there will be strong opposition from local residents who will worry about the pressure on local infrastructure and the unsuitability of Kilnbarn Road and Hermitage Lane to take any more traffic."

Tracey Crouch, the MP for Chatham and Aylesford, was more forthright in her objections.

She said: "I cannot tell you how horrified I am at such a monstrous proposal.

"With Gladmans' 900 homes on Hermitage Lane, and the plans for Bushey Wood, and with others sniffing around Snodland, we simply can't cope with any more houses."

Tony Ward is the chairman of the Broadwater Action Group, which is fighting plans from Berkeley Homes to build 900 homes on land at Broadwater Farm in East Malling, a short distance away.

Mr Ward said: "Like most people I only heard of this yesterday and haven' had an opportunity to look at it in detail.

"But there's this one, the 900 homes proposed at Broadwater Farm, the 950 homes at Eccles. They all mount up and will affect us all with increased traffic on the roads and extra demands on infrastructure.

He added: "The simple fact is that the housing targets are way too high."

The public exhibition will be Thursday, February 9, from 1.30pm till 7.30pm, at the Orchard Conference Centre, East Malling Business Centre, accessed via New Road, East Malling.

There is also a website giving more details here.

The trust said it would be delivering 3,500 leaflets locally encouraging neighbours to attend.