A village that’s already set for 1,300 new homes could see that total reach almost 2,000 if yet another plan is approved.

Proposals for a 650-home development off Scocles Road in Minster is on the agenda of Swale council’s planning committee on Thursday, October 10.

As well as the housing, a much-needed doctors’ surgery and pharmacy is proposed.

There would also be a community hub and outdoor facilities such as a multi-use five-a-side sports pitch, tennis court, bowling club and allotments.

Of the new homes, 270 are earmarked to be affordable housing.

The estate, the size of 43 standard 11-a-side football pitches, would also see changes to the road network, with two new roundabouts.

One would connect with Thistle Hill Way while the other would provide a link to the A2500 Lower Road.

The applicant, MLN Ltd, says the plans “offer the opportunity to provide a sustainable eastern extension to Minster, which contributes to the housing growth needs” of the area.

Meanwhile, Nick Fenton, the Chairman of Kent Housing and Development Group – a forum for housing organisations across the county – put the scheme in context from a developer's point of view.

He said that Minster is attractive for a “whole host of reasons” including it being “relatively less expensive” than other parts of the county which has meant is has “inevitably” grown.

Swale council's local plan has also allowed for the village's growth.

“Housebuilders are also led, in part, by opportunities outlined in local plans,” Mr Fenton explained, “These include targets set by councils to meet the future housing needs of their population.

“It also identifies where housing and employment land will be encouraged over a set period of time and based on national planning guidance.”

The authority’s local plan, adopted in July 2017 outlined Minster and Halfway for 1,494 homes.

Mr Fenton added that while the change the village is seeing can be “unsettling” for residents it can provide the investment in services that areas “desperately” need.

He said: “Housing sites often need to be of a certain size or scale for housebuilders to be able to provide a financial contribution to support local services such as roads, schools and health services.

“When planning applications are decided it is usually subject to strict planning conditions which will decide, for example whether a new road, school or park needs to be provided before a certain number of houses are built.

“The challenge whether you’re a local housebuilder, planning authority or affected local community is getting the balance right – working together for developments that in the round benefit an area for the long term.”

Islanders, however, have reacted to the plans, first submitted in 2022, with anger.

A Buckthorne Road resident called it "absolute madness" and a social media group called Action against Development on Scocles Road has almost 300 members.

If approved, the total number of homes granted planning permission in the village since October 2017 will be 1,984.

• Find out about planning applications that affect you at the Public Notice Portal.

The village's population has already grown significantly, from 14,700 in 2011 to 17,400 in 2021, according to census data.

Cllr Tom Nundy, who chairs Minster Parish Council’s planning committee, told KentOnline that “excessive developments” are not in the “Island’s best interest”.

He added: “The idea that building more houses will solve any of the issues the Island faces is ludicrous.

“We have a lack of doctors’ surgeries, school places, shocking road network, absence of local amenities and high levels of deprivation.

“While our local beat officers are brilliant there just aren’t enough of them leading to anti-social behaviour and crime.

“All housebuilding will do is exacerbate the issues for people already living on the Island and the people that buy the houses.

“Developers are looking at Minster because it is seen as a nice area, where the land they can build on will recover their costs through higher house prices than other areas.”

Meanwhile, Cllr Ben Pointing, who is vice chair of the planning committee says that he does not believe this will be the final housing application for the area.

He added: “Irrespective of the outcome of the planning meeting the developers look at the area and see pound signs.

“There is little regard for the detrimental effect that large ungainly developments have on what is essentially classed as a village.

“It's difficult to say most of this without being seen as NIMBY (not in my backyard).

“But the social housing aspect is a big issue. London boroughs are snapping up these homes, outbidding local authorities, so local people in need are overlooked in favour of Londoners.

“Minster was once seen as the ideal place to live on Sheppey with open spaces, seafront, heritage and nature. All of this naturally makes the property more valuable in Minster.”

If given the thumbs up it intends to have the affordable housing built within three years while market homes would be constructed by other small to medium-sized developers.

KentOnline has approached MLN Ltd for comment.