Swale council has been accused of being undemocratic after officers recommended to approve a controversial application before a public consultation ended.

Moat Homes’ retrospective planning permission for 27 houses and eight flats being built to the rear of Seager Road, Sheerness, is set to be decided today.

Residents raised concerns about the height of the buildings last year and the council discovered a number of differences from its original plans, granted in 2010.

They include the eaves of the houses being 1.7m higher than agreed, the window design being altered, integral garages being made narrower and a footpath between the site and Beckley Road being removed.

Notices were displayed around the site, which gave a deadline of Tuesday for people to make comments about the fresh application.

There are about 80 objections on the council’s planning website, however, the report states 58 representations were received.

Tim Bell, honorary life rear commodore of Isle of Sheppey Sailing Club, which is across the road from the development’s Marine Parade entrance, said his son James had discovered the date on the online document was March 25 and said the recommendation, “makes a mockery of the democratic process”.

Swale council insisted all responses received before the deadline will be taken into account and can be reported to committee members ahead of Thursday’s decision.

Meanwhile, pictures sent to the Times Guardian anonymously show the view from the bedroom level of the new houses overlooking gardens in Seager Road where residents have voiced concerns about a lack of privacy.

The planning committee report says the developer has offered to provide obscure glazing to some windows to “lessen the overall impact” on the worst-affected homes. Concerns were also raised about a conflict of interest as Moat is working with the council’s housing team on the project.

The report states the local authority will deal with the application on its own merits and is not influenced in any way by the work of other departments.

Moat Homes previously agreed a Section 106 payment of £145,000 and all of the homes are affordable.