A housing estate could finally be getting a village shop – 17 years after it was first promised by housing developers.

The residents of Great Easthall, near Sittingbourne, have been begging for the proposed facilities since they moved in almost 20 years ago.

When plans for the housing development were first revealed in 2003, it included space for retail and a school. A medical centre was also an option.

The Northern Relief Road, which would link the homes with the A2 at Bapchild, was also part of the initial proposals.

Decades passed and as more houses went up, none of the infrastructure came to fruition.

In 2017, an application for 33 houses was submitted at the entrance to the estate on Swale Way on a piece of land that was originally earmarked for a shop.

Any final hopes of the store were dashed after the Planning Inspectorate approved the houses.

But now, 20 years after the plans were first put forward, Cllr James Hall, an Independent councillor who represents Murston, has said that a shop selling essentials will be trading by the summer.

He said: "We hope to have some sort of shop built on the land by the Old Service Road, behind the newly-built Lakeview Village Hall.

"Countryside, who are now part of the Vistry Group, promised that Great Easthall would have a shop when all these houses were built, that was in 2006. This still hasn't happened.

"After doing a survey with the local residents I understand a shop open from 7am until 8pm, that would sell things like groceries and cigarettes, is what is wanted.

"There has always been permission for change of use on the land and now after discussions with Swale council and Countryside a shop is hopefully coming to Great Easthall by September this year.

"Due to costs it might not be feasible to build a shop from brick and mortar, so instead we are suggesting a modular shop – a miniature and mobile store that can be set up and taken down within a few hours."

In 2016 residents living on the housing estate said they were victims of a series of broken promises after the proposed facilities were never built.

Speaking at the time, Gareth Harvey – who had lived on the estate for just over 10 years – said people felt "disappointed, frustrated and let down that what had been promised could never be built".

He said previously: "I was sold the idea that it was a nice new village being created.

"Up until around four or five years ago, developers also told us that land had been set aside for a new school and that the completion of Sittingbourne’s northern relief road, which would complete the road network joining estate, was on the horizon.

"I think everyone is fed-up all those plans have been thrown on the scrap heap and one or two are saying they want to move.”

Swale council confirmed that negotiations for the shop were currently under way but nothing is set in stone.

A spokesman said: “The local community wants to see improved amenities in the immediate locality and the possibility of a community shop has been raised, with some preliminary work being undertaken to look at the costs of delivering this, using a modular building.

“As matters stand, we have agreed to enter into a negotiations with the owners of the land, Countryside Properties (now part of the Vistry Group).

"These negotiations are at an early stage but we have agreed to set aside a small area of land within the site to enable the delivery of a community shop, subject to the successful conclusion of these negotiations and those promoting a community shop meeting certain conditions.”

Countryside declined to comment.