Councillors have put temporary brakes on a controversial plan to build 62 homes on an empty field in Scocles Road, Minster, Sheppey.

Officers had recommended outline approval for the estate, including a number of home-build projects, on The Slips at the junction of Elm Lane.

But Minster parish council insists the area should remain as a countryside gap and says Scocles Road, a narrow country lane, can’t cope with any more traffic.

Swale’s planning department shrugged off protests on Thursday night.

It said the land was no longer a countryside gap because of the council’s new Local Plan which is expected to be adopted by the council next month.

And Kent Highways said there was no evidence of traffic problems but said the 30mph speed limit should be extended.

But councillors insisted the application be deferred until the Island’s infrastructure was fit for purpose.

Swale councillor Ken Ingleton (Con, Sheppey Central), who is chairman of the parish council, said he had “serious concerns” about the increasing number of houses in Minster and the dangers to pedestrians using Scocles Road.

Cllr Cameron Beart (Con, Queenborough and Halfway) said: “If Kent Highways says there is no evidence of problems with the roads then why is it spending £1.8 million on a new roundabout at the junction of the Lower Road and Barton Hill Drive? That looks like pretty big evidence to me.

“This application might be for 62 homes but in the past year this council has given permission for 614 new homes to be built in Minster with a possible 650 more to come.

"It is about time we accepted the accumulative effect of all this building. Sheppey’s roads are clearly not fit for purpose.

“The new roundabout is not due until the summer of 2018. We should turn this down on highways grounds alone.”

Cllr Mike Baldock (Ukip, Borden and Grove Park) said permission should be delayed until the road improvements were complete “otherwise it will just create more misery for everyone.”

Mick Drury, who represents the developer, said the delay was “beyond frustrating”. He said it will take at least five years to build all 60 houses and added: “Councillors already deferred this application two months ago.”

Minster parish council clerk Trish Codrington said: “This will be outside the built-up area of Minster and is designated as an important countryside gap. The scale of the development will have a significant impact on the area. An historic view of the village will be lost forever. This is an over-intensive development of the site.”

The application was deferred until the next planning meeting for councillors to come up with a formal wording to try to delay the start.