Developers proposing thousands of new homes in south Canterbury are accused of trying to turn the city into “another Swindon”.

Controversial plans to deliver more than 4,000 properties on open land between Canterbury and Bridge have been slammed by residents at a government inquiry.

The city council’s blueprint for future housing and transport development is being examined by an inspector answerable to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government.

In it the authority earmarks swathes of land for housing to help meet an overall target of 15,600 new homes for the district.

Sites at the southern end of New Dover Road and on space around and including Kent and Canterbury Hospital are especially controversial.

Andrew Wintersgill, of Corinthian Land, which owns the New Dover Road site, said the company was “in talks” with four different housebuilders over the possible development.

He told the hearing that similar projects had successfully been delivered in Swindon, a town with a population of 200,000, dramatically expanded from the 1950s onwards.

Nick Eden-Green, Liberal Democrat councillor for Wincheap ward, responded by saying: “Corinthian has told us of the successful delivery of houses in Swindon.

“I congratulate them. But sir, we are not Swindon and we don’t want to be another Swindon. Please, please, don’t let us be another Swindon.”

Malcolm Harris, of Langton and Nackington Residents Association, echoed his concerns, and suggested developments in Swindon were not wholly successful.

He said: “We get these visions of Swindon, but a lot of the estates there have unsold houses.

“Where are these 4,000 people coming from to buy these houses? I can see this going the same way as Swindon, where we get a half-empty housing estate.”

Canterbury City Council envisions 4,000 new homes on the New Dover Road site as well as, potentially, a relocated hospital.

If the hospital were to move, its present site would be redeveloped for further housing, together with land around it to create between 300 and 800 homes, depending on the move.

The council has said it will provide a link road between the two areas, an enlarged park and ride scheme and a fast bus lane into the city centre.

Sophie Scott, of the Alliance of Canterbury Residents Groups, said: “If you want to build several thousand houses we have to build new roads and a road that goes around the city.

“I don’t particularly want thousands of new houses but if we have to build them we have to allow that they are going to generate traffic.

“It’s not feasible to walk from Old Dover Road to Asda, Morrisons or Canterbury West. To say we are going to get people out of their cars is not workable. I’m deeply concerned that those sites in south Canterbury are going to poison our lives, lungs and houses.”

Peter Welch, also of the Alliance of Canterbury Residents Groups, added: “I know that if you increase load on a network without increasing bandwidth, you increase journey time. If you’re trying to grow a city without increasing arterial roads it’s not going to work.”

But the council said it was committed to the plan, with Richard Moore, transport and environment manager, saying: “No one’s denying the huge challenge we face. The key point is, where is the best place to put houses to create sustainable travel? The key message is it is best to put developments in places where people are likely to walk, cycle or get a bus.

“Road building is not the solution for Canterbury. A by-pass would not help Canterbury. Canterbury is a successful city and people visit. The only way is a policy of restraint. We’ve got to get people on buses.”

No one from the council chose to address the references to Swindon.

Government inspector Mike Moore’s inquiry continues.

His report, which could make recommendations for amendments, will be published later this year.