People will soon be able to have their say on a revised document setting out the borough’s development strategy and planning policies for the next 20 years.

Swale council’s local plan looks at jobs, homes, schools, shops, open space, transport and other services as well as how much and where development might take place.

In 2012 the authority consulted on its draft core strategy entitled Bearing Fruits which said it needed 13,500 new properties across the borough by 2031.

But it was forced to reassess the figures after the government adopted the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), which heavily favours more house building across the country.

It led to three quarters of councils nationwide having their plans knocked back by the planning inspectorate which is in charge of making sure local authorities properly prepare for future needs.

Worried Bearing Fruits would suffer a similar fate, Swale employed planning consultants Nathaniel Lichfield and Partners to check its figures.

It recommended various options based on the number of houses needed annually to accommodate people taking up new jobs.

In the latest version the council plans for 540 dwellings per annum despite the NPPF stating there should be 740. The jobs target is 7,053 across the borough (353 per annum) as opposed to 8,500.

The decision is based on concerns raised about the levels being too high and a lack of adequate transport and other community services.

One of the sites included for development is Stones Farm near Bapchild, which was also in the 2008 plan.

Gladman Developments is currently consulting with people in the area on a proposal to create 600 new homes at the site.

The same company recently unveiled plans to build 580 houses on land and off Swanstree Avenue, Sittingbourne, which isn’t included.

If the dossier is approved by full council on November 26 it will be published on December 19 for a six week period allowing the public to comment before it is sent to the planning inspectorate.

Cllr Gerry Lewin, deputy leader and cabinet member for planning, said: “The main point of the Local Plan is to allocate sufficient land to prevent piecemeal applications coming forward ahead of what has been carefully considered and planned for.

“There are a number of reasons why we have gone for the lower target, i.e. viability, deliverability and your consultation responses, which we feel is more appropriate for Swale.

“Should a planning inspector deem there is an insufficient five year housing land supply allocated and available, Swale, or any other council, would be likely to strongly challenge it.”