THE Government will decide if a scheme to build 1,000 homes at Westwood - one of the biggest development’s in Thanet’s history - is given the go ahead after the district council backed the project.

The final say lies with the Government Office of the South East because the venture is a departure from the Local Plan development blueprint.

The council says the proposals have undergone a number of significant changes in response to public consultation, with officers negotiating a Section 106 environmental agreement with the developers, after local residents raised concerns about the road network in the area.

The agreement requires that, among other things, major highway links in the area should be constructed and completed before anyone moves into the housing development.

A primary school, open spaces and play areas will complete what the council refer to as "a town centre extension" but Thanet’s Labour group leader Cllr Richard Nicholson said the project could become a nightmare.

He said: "Traffic cannot get through Westwood Cross now. More than a thousand extra houses must generate around a thousand or more cars using the area. And if the school that is relocated to the site is Bromstone from Broadstairs as suggested, then parents will drive their children across that busy interchange at peak times - and that will cause even greater traffic chaos.

"We also question if Thanet needs another town centre right in the middle of a retail area - our existing town centres are struggling enough.

"The proposal is now for up to 1,130 houses which is why GOSE is involved. The density of housing proposed with some up to four-storeys high is worrying. It could create a ghetto right in the middle of the island."

Brian White, head of development services, said: "This development of a new town centre, with its neighbouring shopping centre and leisure facilities, will help to make Thanet a more attractive place for people to invest in, which in turn will lead to further job creation.

"The plans have been altered considerably to improve the road network and transport links to ease congestion, which will be completed before any houses are occupied and that’s exceptionally unusual for this type of development.

"We’ve also included in the approval, measures to protect the homes in Star Lane from traffic noise and fumes, while traffic calming measures will also be introduced in Manston Court Road and Gordon Road."