A resident’s concerns that a housing development could be built next to his home have been temporarily put to rest.

Richard Higgins, of Admirals Walk, Halfway, was baffled after it appeared work has started on land at the cul-de-sac end of his road.

The 55-year-old claimed he was told that 21 houses were to be built on the site, which borders the Isle of Sheppey Academy’s east site in Minster Road, but there was no planning permission in place for the homes.

Cllr Angela Harrison took up the case, and after speaking to Esther Larner, Kent County Council’s project manager for capital programme delivery, she was able to get some answers.

The land has been leased to construction firm Kier for the past three years to use for accommodation for its staff working at the school site.

The current activity is levelling work to return the site to the state it was in before Kier moved in.

Ms Larner said that the land could well be sold by KCC in the future, but there were no plans for housing on it at the moment.

Mr Higgins, who has lived in the road for more than 30 years, said that he was still unhappy and worried that plans would be put in for housing in future.