Developers hope to overhaul farmland the size of 42 football pitches into 500 homes and a secondary school.

Land next to Manston Court Road in Ramsgate, a stone’s throw from the Westwood Cross shopping complex, has been earmarked for the scheme.

In papers submitted to Thanet District Council, developers Rooksmead said it has engaged with key stakeholders such as Kent County Council and Kent Highways to create the master plan.

It said: “The proposed development provides extensive and wide-ranging public benefits, stemming from the comprehensive, well-designed development in a suitable and sustainable location for residential development.

“[It] encapsulates the principles of sustainable development, and it complies with the overarching principles and objectives of the local plan.”

Documents went on to state the overall construction cost of the development would amount to little more than £162 million whilst bringing in £1 million a year in council tax.

If the development goes ahead it will be named Westwood Village Two and host a range of one to four-bed homes.

It is hoped as many as 225 of the 500 properties will be two-beds.

A six-form entry secondary school capable of hosting more than 1,000 pupils would also come with the homes in the southwest of the area – complete with a football pitch and athletics track.

Planning documents suggest as many as 107 full-time equivalent jobs could be created by the creation of the educational establishment.

It is proposed the land reserved for the school will be transferred to Kent County Council once planning approval is granted, with the authority responsible for delivering the facility.

Various road works would also take place to introduce new infrastructure, including a new junction to the north of the site linking it to Manston Court Road.

However, developers say emphasis will be placed on sustainable methods of travel – meaning cycling and walking routes – in hopes of creating a carbon-neutral community.

If all goes to plan, Rooksmead aims to break ground in 2025.

The first phase of the scheme known as Westwood Village One, which includes 900 homes and a primary school, was given the green light in 2019.

The homes were approved alongside new community facilities and shops.

Thanet District Council allocated the land for 1,400 homes and mixed commercial use in their local plan.

Westwood Village Two will include the remaining 500 homes, a secondary school, children’s play areas and a new link road between Haine Road and Manston Court Road.

Both phases will sit side by side and will fill the land between the shopping centre and Manston Solar Farm.

The official bid comes less than two months after Rooksmead held a public consultation to unveil the proposals before submitting its outline planning application.

When phase one was put forward by developers Greenacre Thanet, residents raised concerns the development would “ruin” the countryside.

Despite winning approval – against the wishes of many objectors – it is not clear when work on phase one will begin and the fields remain largely untouched.