Urban planners have been sensationally ordered to find yet more space for housing in the Canterbury district – on top of the 15,600 new homes already envisaged.

The city council is now looking for further sites to set aside for residential development beyond those currently earmarked.

The news is likely to appall the thousands of residents who have fought tooth and nail to see the housing targets reined in and open spaces preserved.

A government inspector has suspended his inquiry into the city council’s Local Plan – its development blueprint for housing and transport development.

Originally the city authority was proposing 15,600 new homes at a rate of 780 per year over 20 years.

Contained in the plan are proposals for 4,800 homes in south Canterbury, 1,000 in Sturry and Broad Oak, 1,300 in Hillborough, 800 at Strode Farm in Herne, 300 in Greenhill, 600 at the former Herne Bay Golf Club and 400 near Duncan Down in Whitstable.

But government inspector Mike Moore has now identified further sites in Thanington, Hersden and Whitstable which could increase the quota.

He has suspended his inquiry while council officers allocate extra land so that the overall target can be increased up to 800 new homes built every year.

Council chief executive Colin Carmichael said: “We now have work to do on the five year supply point and will be looking at the sites the inspector has highlighted. It is quite common for an examination to be paused so that additional information can be submitted, and we will be going back to him on the timetable for this in a few weeks’ time.

“We look forward to the examination continuing in due course.”

Mr Moore has also rejected calls to have the entire Local Plan declared void on the grounds of procedural impropriety.

Opponents had claimed the city council had failed in its duty to cooperate with neighbouring authorities.

Mr Carmichael added: “Naturally we are very pleased that the inspector has concluded that the extensive work we carried out on the important legal and process matters is sound and that the examination can continue.”