Campaigners against Thanet’s local plan are furious after an independent report stated that more homes would need to be built in the area.

In line with government guidelines, Thanet District Council appointed consultants GL Hearn to reassess the number of required houses based on new population data.

The draft local plan had stated that 12,000 homes would be needed by 2031, but new figures reveal that the assessed housing need is likely to increase to 15,600 – 3,500 more than the figure that stirred up controversy when the plan went to public consultation in January.

Residents from across Birchington, Broadstairs, Garlinge and Westgate signed petitions presented to Thanet District Council, organised public meetings and attended council’s drop-in sessions when the consultation was launched.

Among points of contention were the strain on infrastructure and impacts on agricultural land.

Birchington campaigner Craig Solly said: “Hearing the news that the housing allocation has risen is disappointing especially for the people in Birchington and around Thanet who have spent many hours reading and commenting on the draft local plan consultation, which closed in March.

“However, increasing the numbers now makes the job to build houses and create jobs much more difficult for the council.

“This could make the local plan harder to pass with the planning inspector if they look at the realistic picture of higher than average unemployment and lower than average salaries in Thanet.

“I am confused about where the figures come from. I was told by planning that they make the decision on the housing numbers.

“This does not seem the case.”

Westgate town councillor Hannah Scott said: “The increase in housing need has come as a great surprise to people in Westgate-on-Sea and the whole of Thanet.

“We question the methodology used to create this housing need figure. It seems like the population increase figures have been extrapolated from the last couple of years rather than using the general trend over a longer period.

“We explained in April that 12,000 houses was too many, so 15,600 is ludicrous.

“Westgate Town Council opposes the building of 1,000 houses in the area, particularly on the grounds that they are to be built on Grade I agricultural land.

“The town council does not oppose the other 200 proposed houses to be built in sensible places in Westgate town, but has indicated that food security needs to be a high priority for the government and these homes should not be built on top-quality farmland.”

A Thanet council spokesman said: “The draft local plan stated that Thanet needed 12,000 homes by 2031.

“This figure was informed by official population projections published at the time.

“In March, government projections changed to reflect the latest census data.

“The draft findings of the review were presented to the local plan cross-party working group on September 25.

“The consultants identified that in order to meet government guidance the objectively assessed housing need for Thanet is likely to increase to 15,660. The final report is still expected.

“The council cannot adopt a local plan unless it passes examination by an independent inspector.

“To pass this examination, the inspector will test whether the council has based its housing figures on the latest government data.

“The council cannot ignore these updated figures because not having a robust local plan is not an option and leaves the area open to speculative development.”

Following the final consultant’s report, officers will consider the potential impacts this increase could have on the environment and local infrastructure.

Approximately, 1,200 homes have already been built, and planning permission has been granted for a further 3,243 – all counting towards the local plan housing requirement.

A further consultation stage is set to be announced in 2016, giving residents another chance to express their views.