An extraordinary planning committee meeting to discuss a controversial housing development will be held tonight.

Plans to build up to 700 homes at Minster's Barton Hill Drive, on Sheppey, are the only item on the agenda for the dedicated session, which was called by Swale council.

A council spokesman said: “Given the scale and interest in the item, we felt an extraordinary meeting would be best.”

It will be held at Sittingbourne’s Swale House in East Street at 7pm.

Head of planning, James Freeman, is asking for officers to be given delegated powers to agree the outline plans of the scheme, subject to conditions and the completion of an agreement setting out financial contributions a developer would have to pay towards services.

This will be the second time the proposal has gone before the committee. It was deferred at a meeting in February, after a decision to vote against the officer recommendation.

In a report for members, Mr Freeman said his recommendation to approve the proposal remained unchanged.

He said the scheme would “enable delivery of a strategic housing site” within the council’s Local Plan and would contribute towards the delivery of Lower Road improvements.

He added: “Members are entitled to reach a different conclusion to mine if they consider there are sound planning reasons for doing so, and this is an established facet of the planning process.

“Members should, however, note that if the council cannot substantiate its grounds of refusal it then places itself at significant risk of costs in the event of an appeal.

“In my opinion, the likelihood of an appeal is high, given that the majority of the site is allocated for housing development in the Local Plan, and additionally that the council cannot currently demonstrate a five-year housing supply.”

The plans include up to 700 homes on 93 acres of farmland with infrastructure including land for a convenience store, community hall, open space, play areas, access roads, footpaths, cycleways, parking, landscaping and drainage.

The scheme, which has numerous opponents, is being proposed by farmers SW Attwood and Partners.

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