Proposals to roll out a sprawling housing estate labelled “designed for commuters” on a town’s outskirts are set to be approved.

Plans for 220-homes, a shop and park and ride off Old Thanet Way in Whitstable have faced a fierce public backlash since they surfaced in 2023.

But Canterbury City Council (CCC) planning chiefs recently recommended the scheme to be green-lit saying it would help “boost housing supply”.

In a detailed nine-page objection letter, councillors Clare Turnbull and Steven Wheeler (Green), wrote: “The project is not sustainable from an economic point of view.

“The high concentration of three and four-bedroom houses does not meet local needs in any way.

“It is simply designed for external commuters and is too high priced for local needs.

“It also does not meet the local need for smaller dwellings, rental properties or enough access for new buyers at affordable prices.”

They argue the homes would be a “parasitical addition” to the town designed for “non-Whitstable residents” to commute to London and Canterbury.

But Midlands-based developer Catesby Estates revealed the number of homes has been slashed to 220, with two thirds earmarked for affordable or social rent and a quarter reserved for first-time buyers.

If plans progress, the 37 acre site named Benacre View will be situated a mile and a half from Whitstable town centre.

It will include a 400 m sq shop, play area and park and ride catering for 300 cars, according to official papers.

Catesby says in documents submitted to CCC: “The affordable housing will be tenure blind and ‘pepper potted’ throughout the development.

“Their design will be indistinguishable from the market housing.”

The field where the development would be built was earmarked in the council’s draft local plan, which is the authority’s housing blueprint up to 2045.

In dozens of objection letters, residents suggested local school and GP services are already oversubscribed and would not be able to cope with more residents.

Writing to the district planners, an NHS representative clarified that the new homes would generate an estimated 581 new patient registrations.

“There is currently limited capacity within existing healthcare premises to accommodate growth in this area,” said a letter to city planners.

“The need from this development, along with other new developments, will therefore need to be met through the creation of additional capacity in general practice and other healthcare premises.”

However, recommending the bid for approval, CCC planners say it is necessary to boost housing supply in the area.

“Whilst outside of the adopted urban area, it does lie directly adjacent and could be considered a suitable location for housing,” write officers.

“There would be clear benefit in granting permission for this site, which is allocated in the emerging Local Plan, and as such boosting our housing supply to support the delivery of both market and affordable housing in the district.

“This approach would also be consistent with the new growth-focused approach to the planning system recently announced by the chancellor.”

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CCC’s planning committee will decide on January 7 whether to grant the bid outline planning permission.