A developer is believed to have been given six months to tear down 35 properties after councillors voted to issue an enforcement notice.

It comes after Moat Homes was refused retrospective permission for 27 houses and eight flats behind Seager Road, Sheerness, in May.

The properties were found to have deviated from their original designs, approved in 2010, including some being built up to 1.7m higher than agreed.

Members of Swale council’s planning committee have now met in a private session.

Although the council has not disclosed the details, it is understood members voted to support a recommendation by officers to issue an enforcement notice to make the developer clear the entire development.

It is believed Moat will be ordered to do so within six months of it being sent but it would be able to appeal against the notice.

A spokesman for Moat said since the notice had not been received the company would not be able to comment but said it was still looking to move forward with an appeal against the planning committee’s original refusal of its retrospective permission.

Susan Holmes, of nearby Barnsley Close, who fought against the developer’s attempt to validate its breach of planning permission, said: “All we know is an enforcement notice was issued and it was held in secret.

"All we know is an enforcement notice was issued and it was held in secret" - Susan Holmes

“It was something to do with discussing the wording.

“I would imagine they want to get things right first time and you can understand that because if they don’t they might lose an appeal and it will make things worse in the long run.

“At least they are moving on with it which is a good thing.”

Some neighbouring residents have been campaigning against the development for six years, arguing the entrance to the site in Marine Parade is dangerous to vehicles.

The developer has argued the site would provide 35 much-needed social housing properties.