A controversial plan to develop a former Ministry of Defence research site has been given the green light, despite huge public opposition.

The application proposes the construction of 450 homes, a hotel of up to 80 beds and business park - which bosses say will create 1,500 jobs, at Fort Halstead.

Armstrong (Kent) LLP, owners of the site in Sevenoaks, say the new village will also include a nursery, community hall, play areas and a medical facility.

The Defence, Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) currently occupies the area and the facility's main function has been research and forensic analysis into explosives.

It has been the largest employer in the Sevenoaks district, currently employing 1,000 people.

During consultation fears about road safety, a lack of school places and funding for the new medical facility were raised by members of the public.

In addition, Shoreham, Otford, Dunton Green, Knockholt, Halstead and Chevening councils all wrote to Sevenoaks District Council to lodge concerns about the proposal, which would be completed in 2027.

Despite a significant number of objections the proposal was granted, subject to a number of conditions, at a development control committee meeting on Thursday.

The application's Section 106 agreement sparked huge debate among members.

The plans were recommended for approval subject to all interested parties and land freeholders, including the Secretary of State for Defence, signing the agreement.

To the shock of many committee members, officers revealed the Secretary of State had not yet signed and "had no intention of doing so".

Councillor Simon Raikes said: "The main issue we need to focus on here is whether he is going to sign. If he doesn't then we lose the whole thing."

Deputy chairman, councillor Julia Thornton, said officers had received no information as to why the signature was being withheld and communication between parties was proving difficult.

At the end of the four hour meeting the application was approved with 12 officers voting in favour, subject to all parties signing the Section 106 agreement within the next three months.

If the Secretary of State does not agree to the arrangement, the application will be refused.

Councillor Lorraine Stack said: "I am very unhappy with this, I am not comfortable at all making a decision when we have no Section 106 this is a major estate on a former explosive research site with huge public resistance I am not happy with this at all."

"The main issue we need to focus on here is whether the Secretary of State is going to sign. If he doesn't then we lose the whole thing" - Councillor Simon Raikes

Miss Stack abstained from voting at the meeting.

Conditions upon which the application was granted include a requirement for the provision of 20% affordable housing.

Developers must also implement several highway improvements, including new speed limits.

The original plan specified Polhill via Crow Drive would be the primary access point to the east and Star Hill Road junction would act as a secondary entrance and exit to the west.

Kent County Council's Highways department called for a new 40mph limit on the road and suggested methods which would reduce use of the exit by employees of QinetiQ, a defence technology company which still operates from the site.

However, following heated discussion between committee members, many of whom stressed the dangerous nature of Star Hill Road, officers agreed to close it off to cars, allowing only emergency service vehicles, buses, pedestrians and cyclists to pass through.

Potential contamination of the site was cited by several public speakers.

Officers told the meeting a strict remediation plan was in place and trained staff would deal with such matters if they were to arise during development.