Controversial plans to build 124 homes north of Newington High Street look set to be given the go-ahead.

The proposals, which include 114 houses and 10 apartments, were submitted by developer Persimmon Homes.

They also include a new access road from the High Street, a pedestrian and cycle link to Church Lane and parking.

Swale council’s planning committee is being recommended to grant approval to the scheme at its meeting tonight (Thursday), subject to a section 106 agreement outlining developer contributions to fund community projects.

There were 55 objections from residents whose concerns include increased traffic through Newington, loss of agricultural land and that Nitrogen Dioxide from vehicles from the new homes would add to air pollution along the A2.

MP Gordon Henderson also waded into the row, throwing his weight behind objectors and there were objections from the Campaign for the Protection of Rural England and Newington Parish Council which described the scheme as “urban sprawl”.

In recommending it to be granted, the report by James Freeman, Swale council’s head of planning, says the proposed development would provide housing on a site allocated for this purpose in the authority’s upcoming Local Plan.

He added: “The economic, social and environmental considerations of the proposed development have been assessed and I have concluded that there would be some harm to human health as a result of an increase in air pollution as a consequence of this development, but that this would be confined to the area of the Rainham air quality management area (AQMA).

“Mitigation measures will reduce this harm to some degree. I conclude that the need for housing would outweigh any harm arising from air pollution.”

Councillors initially rejected the plans on Thursday, March 30, against officers’ advice, but a final decision was deferred and the application returns to tonight’s planning meeting from 7pm in the council chamber at Swale House, East Street, Sittingbourne.