Developers are expected to submit plans for more than 500 homes on greenfield land near Hoo - two years after a smaller development was kicked out by the Planning Inspectorate.

Home-builder Taylor Wimpey has written to Medway Council requesting a Scoping Opinion for an application for up to 550 homes on land west of Hoo.

It says the scheme would form part of the authority’s vision of a rural town on the peninsula - one of the proposals set out in consultation for the new Local Plan.

But villagers are already gearing up to fight the scheme, and Peninsula ward councillor Roy Freshwater has written to complain about the development, which he says would have “profound health and wellbeing consequences for all people living in Hoo village and the Peninsula.”

Last time round the planning inspector Paul Clark dismissed the idea for a 475-home development on the grounds of sustainability, and Cllr Freshwater said the issue had not been addressed under the new application.

Furthermore, he said concerns remained over sufficient GPs, school places and bus services — problems which would be exacerbated by the new larger scale development.

Cllr Freshwater said people in Hoo had “very strong feelings against the proposal”, adding: “The effect of the proposal will substantially destroy the character and appearance of the countryside in the area where they live.

“The building of new homes on this site is significantly different and will have a major negative effect for all people living on the Hoo Peninsula.

"Instead of being greeted by waving grass and wheat in the wind it will force people to be greeted by 530 tiled roofs.”

He said the plans would have a negative impact on air pollution, did not asses habitat numbers and failed to meet tests of “necessity, relevance and fairness.”

Taylor Wimpey said it was working with the council on one of the options for the emerging Local Plan to be tested during a public consultation early next year.