Councillors are set to approve new houses along a busy main road - despite objections from the area's MP.

Last summer, Longfield-based Esquire Developments put forward plans for 48 homes on land between the A2 London Road and Seymour Road in Rainham.

The proposals - which are due to be discussed at a meeting next week - had been submitted to Medway Council in outline, meaning more detailed plans would come later.

However, the developer has set out how they want the site to be accessed from the A2.

They are also proposing to build a traffic island to help people cross over the road to a bus stop.

Additionally, 108 parking spaces are also planned.

Residents wrote to the council to say the development would add further pressure to the road, and were also concerned about the loss of open countryside and how car dependent the development could be.

Swale Borough Council also said it was not happy about the loss of open space in the area which is a designated Area of Local Landscape Importance.

The area's MP, Rehman Chishti, raised concern about how the site could become "cramped" due to the land being less than five acres, saying he also felt the development would amount to an unacceptable extension of the "urban area of Rainham".

Councillors are also due to discuss plans for 66 homes between Moor Street and the A2.

The site being considered for development by Bellway neighbours the recently-opened Leigh Academy Rainham.

The plans include 25% affordable housing and a children's play area; the houses would be between one and four bedrooms.

Objection letters detailed how some residents were concerned about the access-way traffic from a road - which also accesses the school - becoming congested as the school becomes fully operational, as well as the impact on local wildlife and services.

Both of the plans have been recommended by planning officers for approval.

They will be discussed during a meeting of the planning committee on Thursday.