Former allotments are set to be transformed into an 88-home estate - despite fears the development will “invade” neighbours’ privacy.

Construction firm Chartway Group has been given the green light by Thanet District Council to start work on the project earmarked for land in Manston Road, Ramsgate.

Building is expected to kick off in the new year - with developers hoping to complete the work in early 2024.

But neighbours are worried the site will be “directly next to” their properties.

Objecting to the plans, Alexander Barber said: “It’s an invasion of our privacy in terms of being too close and the noise of the building work.

“We live in an end of terrace house and wish for it to stay that way.

“We don’t want houses directly next to us.”

Meanwhile, fellow resident Elizabeth French says drawings show two houses will be built directly next to her house.

“We have just moved here to get away from building,” she added.

“The last thing we want is to be disturbed by more building right next to our house.”

Bosses from Chartway say the development, called Manston Green, will be a “high-quality” scheme providing “sustainable and well-designed homes”.

Documents lodged with the district council insist the “proposals have been designed to ensure adequate separation spaces to avoid unacceptable living conditions” for neighbours.

The company’s planning director Julian Moat insists the company has listened to residents’ concerns.

'The last thing we want is to be disturbed by more building right next to our house...'

“We originally had plans for 90 buildings, but have reduced that to 88 to allow for more distance from existing residents,” he said.

“We will have a construction management plan look at hours of work during the week and on Saturday mornings.

“We will also have a site management team to liaise with residents and ease their concerns.”

Planning papers argue the project - which will be close to a 785-home scheme in Haine Road - will help “meet the demand for housing which the council is currently unable to identify a supply”.

Manston Green will consist of 12 one-bed properties, 25 two-beds, 45 with three and six four-beds.

Thirty per cent of them will be categorised as “affordable”.

Chartway says the site will also have “a small community herb garden, children’s play equipment and an ornamental grass labyrinth for sensory and imaginative play”.