Councillors are due to make a decision on proposals for a 700-home estate tonight.

The meeting was brought forward after it was revealed works on the Lower Road widening scheme relied on the plans, for Barton Hill Drive, Minster, getting the green light.

Kent Highways needs cash released by the scheme if it is to start in March as hoped.

Residents vow to leave if housing plans go ahead

Swale’s head of planning James Freeman is asking for officers to be given powers to agree the outline plans for the homes, subject to a list of 48 conditions and the completion of a section 106 agreement.

The agreement would force the developers to contribute more than £1.2m towards the £4.85m project to widen the 1.1km stretch of the Lower Road - from Cowstead Corner to Barton Hill Drive - which is the main route to Minster and Leysdown.

The plan includes up to 700 homes on 37.5 hectares of farmland with room for a shop, community hall, open space, play areas, access roads, footpaths, cycleways, parking, landscaping and drainage.

Houses are already allocated for the site in the council’s Local Plan.

It stretches from the Minster campus of the Oasis Academy and rear gardens of Parsonage Chase and the Lovell Road play area to Barton Hill Drive and the Lower Road.

Parsonage Farm, a Grade II listed building, is nearby.

The scheme, which could be worth an estimated £146 million, is being proposed by farmers SW Attwood and Partners.

"We just don’t have the infrastructure" - Ray Ballard

The plans have sparked outrage among many Islanders.

They have lodged objections on Swale council’s website and taken to social media calling for better roads, schools and a hospital before another house is built.

None have been more forceful than Sheppey-born Ray Ballard, 66, from Minster Road. The veteran entertainer said: “There are already enough houses on Sheppey. Another 700 is totally unrealistic. That will mean at least another 1,400 cars.

“Common sense tells you it won’t work. We just don’t have the infrastructure.

“You only have to see what happened this week when Marine Parade was closed by Southern Water. There are three routes into Sheerness but when one closes it throws the whole Island into chaos.

“Halfway was gridlocked and everything ground to a standstill.

“We can’t cope with the traffic now and it is not even the summer when we have holidaymakers on the Island."

He added: “My grandparents were around when there were horse and carts. Many of our roads, especially at the eastern end of Sheppey, are still only single track. It is like squeezing 100 people into a bungalow. The hotel is full.”

He complained Sheppey Community Hospital didn’t have an A&E department and that Medway Maritime Hospital was “choc-a-bloc” adding: “Our own GPs are struggling with more than 3,000 patients each.”

He dismissed plans to build a secondary school in Sittingbourne saying: “Taking more children to Sittingbourne will just put more pressure on our roads. It is not going to work. You can’t go round building houses wily-nily.”

Minster’s roads would not be the only beneficiaries if the homes scheme was approved.

Kent County Council (KCC), Kent Highways and the NHS are asking for nearly £8m.

KCC’s list includes £3m towards a new primary school at Rushenden; £820,000 towards a secondary in Quinton Road, Sittingbourne; £42,000 for Sheerness Adult Education Centre; £26,000 towards Sheerness Youth Centre; £34,000 for Minster Library and £43,000 for disabled toilets at Sheppey Healthy Living Centre.

Kent Highways wants £245,000 for public transport; £20,000 each to improve Queenborough Road and Halfway crossroads; £232,000 for electric car chargers and £38,000 for bike racks. Swale’s NHS is requesting £605,000 to expand Minster Medical Centre.

A shop (£200,000) and changing rooms at Sheppey Rugby Club (£160,000) are also sought.

The meeting is at 7pm in the council chamber of Swale House in East Street, Sittingbourne.

An overflow area for the public will be available in a nearby committee room.