Villagers warn the speed limit of a main road will need to be reduced if new homes are built.

A planning application has been submitted to create 15 new builds on a horse field off Station Road, in St Margaret’s-at-Cliffe, between Deal and Dover.

But residents living nearby say that road has large amounts of traffic already and fear the extra cars the new development would bring.

If approved, the homes would be directly behind Martin Hunt’s house.

He said: “With more cars from this development they would also have to slow down the speed limit of the road, which is 60mph now.

“Cars go along here go very fast. It should be 40mph.

"Also in the rush hour it is terrible to get out onto the main A258."

Villager Tony Ratcliffe said: "A total 15 homes would probably mean 30 cars for this area.

“So they would have to slow down the road.

“People go fast downhill towards the dip so they can more easily get up the hill on the other side.

“Yet they still put on their brakes as they’re going down. "

Esquire Developments, of Longfield near Dartford, wants to build the homes on a 1.37 hectare (3.39 acre) horse field at New Townsend Farm, behind five existing houses.

The planning application was submitted to Dover District Council this month.

Ten of the homes would have four bedrooms, the others would be affordable to rent or buy, and would be a mix of one bed flats, and two or three bed houses.

At least 30 parking spaces are planned.

A planning statement from Esquire said that its consultants’ report estimated that the development could generate up to 69 vehicle trips on weekdays between 7am and 7pm, on average six movements per hour.

The applicants said: “This would not have a severe residual impact on the operation of the local highway network.

“The proposals should not result in any detrimental impacts in transport terms.”

And while there were concerns over the extra traffic, most people KentOnline spoke to in the area were not against the planned new homes overall.

Mr Hunt added: “They have to go somewhere and I would rather they go inside the envelope of the village than have more countryside gone.”

Neighbour Stephen Claringbould said: "I'm not worried, people need houses."

But Stephen Whenman was against it saying: "It's not a good idea.

“We moved here from London 20-odd years ago for the peace and quiet.

“Also the houses would spoil the view from our back garden where we can see the sea and Goodwin Sands."

A decision on the application is expected in April.