Updated plans for up to 700 homes will now include space for a doctors' surgery.

New proposals for the estate off Barton Hill Drive, Minster, are expected to go before Swale council's planning committee on July 18, it is understood.

SW Attwood and Partners, run by father and son duo Stephen and James Attwood, has amended the plan to feature a medical centre.

The firm says it is talking to a GP, as well as Swale Clinical Commissioning Group, the authority in charge of funding health services in the area.

It is hoped it would also be a base for training doctors.

The centre would be alongside up to three shops and parking.

The 'community area' would be built in the first phase for people to use as soon as possible.

If no retailers are found for the shops, then the building could be used as a community centre.

If the plans are given the go-ahead, it would also unlock an extra £1.22 million needed to complete the widening of the Lower Road.

It will be the second time the plans have been to the Planning Committee.

In February, members voted by 11 votes to four to reject the application.

But head of planning, James Freeman, 'called-in' the matter, a power used to defer a decision until more information is available.

It was thought that failing to approve planning permission at that stage meant funding of £3.2m from the National Productivity Investment Fund would be lost, as it had to be spent in a certain timeframe.

However, Kent County Council highways officers have rejigged the scheme so the grant is not lost by rearranging the order of the work.

Civil engineering firm Breheny is already creating a footpath and cycle route and widening the road near the Cowstead Corner roundabout.

The majority of the widening work would be funded by a developer’s contribution of £1.22m.

Stephen Attwood said Kent Highways had warned that if Breheny had to leave and then return to complete the project, the cost could rise by £500,000.

He added: “The company is happy to provide the necessary land to enable these much-needed improvements.

"We are a local business trying to do what we think is right for the area.

“However, all depends on the grant of planning permission to deliver the full widening scheme and the GP surgery.

“The company will continue to work with the local GP, Swale CCG and KCC to help deliver these two key pieces of infrastructure for Minster and for the Island."

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