A housing development of 300 homes is to be built in Rainham despite concerns over-development will make it a “terrible suburb to live in”.

Medway Council’s planning committee unanimously supported the reserved matters application for land off Otterham Quay Lane , despite the pleas of two ward councillors.

Persimmon Homes South East’ scheme includes 23 one-bedroom homes, all of which are affordable. The rest of the properties have two, three and four bedrooms.

Cllrs David Carr and Martin Potter (both Con) raised concerns about the impact the development – and others in the pipeline – would have on the area, as well as its road network.

Speaking against the application, Cllr Carr said: “This development and others will add 5,000 or 6,000 cars to a road system that is unable to cope now, with air quality already at saturation point.

“If you approve this, it’s unacceptable and Rainham will become a terrible suburb to live in.

"People are already talking about moving out of Rainham and find somewhere else to live.”

According to planning officers, the land was “farmed until recently”.

Local residents have expressed fears about the changing landscape of Rainham. Cllr Potter added: “We’re looking at the best part of 2,000 dwellings that have been put forward in the Rainham area and we’ve had enough.”

But both ward councillors were told the proposal already had outline planning permission granted last February, meaning many of their complaints had already been considered and determined upon.

Cllr Glyn Griffiths (Lab) responded: “Cllr Potter himself acknowledges this has already got planning permission for 300 units which he is fully aware we didn’t want to see, but they were.

“I just feel like we’ve had a 10-minute election broadcast. I understand the concerns, but this wasn’t the forum.”

Cllr Stuart Tranter (Con) said: “The officers have done an enormous amount to get this as good as it is, even though we start from a place of not wanting it to be there. In many ways, it looks quite pleasant"