People who bought new homes on the false promise facilities such as shops and a pub would follow have seen plans for a community shop scrapped.

People living on Great Easthall had been told if they wanted somewhere to buy essentials they would have to run the shop themselves, with up to £200,000 offered by Trenport Investments to build it and set it up.

The offer came after Trenport put in a planning application to build 33 homes on the last available development plot on the estate – a site originally earmarked for a “neighbourhood centre” for amenities such as shops and a GP surgery.

It had argued a shop would be commercially unviable, based on evidence provided by Tesco, which had rejected opening a store there, given Great Easthall is effectively a giant cul-de-sac.

At first, Swale council’s planners appeared to back Trenport and recommended the plans for the homes be approved.

However, a decision was deferred in December and the authority has since done a U-turn and now suggests the proposal be refused.

Its change of stance comes after Trenport refused to include a community shop on land it owned and a plan to put it next to a community centre, which is nearing completion, fell through.

The council’s head of planning, James Freeman, in a report to be considered by councillors tomorrow (Thursday), said: “It is my view that there are no benefits to the scheme that would outweigh the harm to the residents of the Great Easthall estate.”

Mulberry Way resident Gareth Harvey, who is part of a group who have been working hard to press for facilities, said: “Our community feels as strongly as ever that amenities are necessary, not just for the convenience of having a nearby shop but to also help create a focal point or heart to our neighbourhood.

"We do not want yet another promise that was made to us, broken.” - Gareth Harvey

“It is a local shop or a public house that help make a village, which was the vision that the developers and indeed the council had, when the idea of Great Easthall came about.

“It was this idea and vision that many of the residents were sold."

Swale’s planning committee will meet at Swale House, East Street, Sittingbourne, at 7pm tomorrow (Thursday).