People say their village is at risk after plans were put forward for more than 700 new homes.

Last month, Redrow submitted plans to build 760 homes in High Halstow, on the Hoo Peninsula, on a 100-acre site between Christmas Lane, Sharnal Street and Britannia Road.

The development would see a range of one- to four-bedroom homes built in three phases, along with play areas, allotments and cycle paths.

There would also be 1,000 sq m of community and retail space, as well as a site for a new two-form entry primary school.

But High Halstow residents say the village cannot support the number of new homes proposed.

Geraldine Barry is one of many concerned villagers who are opposed to the plans.

She said: “It backs onto where I live but my main beef with it is the road structure.

“There’s just the one main road in and out of the village. We need another way out of here before they build more houses. Our roads can’t cope as it is.

“We also don’t have enough doctors to support that many new people. They can’t support the people living here already.”

Another woman in the village, who did not want to be named, agreed there is not enough infrastructure for so many new residents.

She continued: “They won’t be happy until all the villages on the peninsula are completely joined up.

“The roads are appalling as is. There’s no room for new people to sign up to the doctors. There’s not enough buses.

“It’s just appalling. It won’t be a village anymore. We know we need houses and that we need affordable housing but it won’t be a community anymore.”

Malcolm Kent’s house also backs onto the land where the development would be built.

He described the proposal as “ridiculous”, adding: “It’s doubling the size of the village in one go.

“Since new houses have been built in the area, we’ve had more powercuts and the new houses have had sewage problems.

“I’m not opposed to the development being built next to houses - living next to a field there is always a possibility they’ll build on it and that’s something I accepted when I moved here.

“If they said they were building 100 houses I’m sure most people here wouldn’t even mind, but to build 760 in a nice village like this is different.”

Malcolm also raised concerns about roads and the lack of transport options for getting to places such as London.

In March, Medway Council announced it had paused plans to build a new railway station at Sharnal Street, connecting the Peninsula to Gravesend.

Malcolm continued: “We need as much help as we can get. We already can’t get a doctor’s appointment, and they don’t send doctors out to the villages anymore.

“There’s still just the one hospital in Medway, and it feels like Medway is being targeted for new houses.

“I moved here 16 years ago from Swanley. When I lived there I saw so much of the wildlife being lost because of new developments.

“I moved here and saw all of that nature and wildlife again, like lizards and hedgehogs.

“It will kill off the wildlife, and hedgehogs, for example, are a dying species.”

Another resident said: “The whole village just can’t support it. We’ll have three times the amount of traffic on Christmas Lane.

“I’ve lived in this house 10 years and the traffic has been getting worse. It’s too heavy now.

“The problem is not that they’re new houses. I’ve lived in new houses myself. But there’s not enough facilities. We need help here.

“It’s a nice village, this. Sure, it has its problems like anywhere else, but people look after it and that’s why we moved here.”

She continued: “It’s a shame. I have four children and eight grandchildren, and it’s them I’m worried about.

“They live around here and it’s getting harder and harder to make a living. But we’ll fight as long as we can.”

A Redrow spokesman said: “As a responsible developer, we always strive to create sustainable communities with careful consideration of both social and environmental factors.

“In line with our placemaking principles, and following a public consultation, we have ensured the planning proposal for the development in High Halstow is sympathetic to the local area, and the development would also make a significant financial contribution to the community, including local infrastructure, services and public transport.

“We will continue to work closely with Medway Council, community groups and other key stakeholders throughout the planning application process.”

A report submitted to Medway Council with the plans describes the proposal as "an attractive and sustainable development that will deliver an integrated and well-designed expansion to the existing settlement".

A decision will be made by July 19 on whether the plans will be approved.

If they are, the first phase will include 278 homes, a quarter of which will be affordable.