It was not a bridge too far for proposals for 1,200 new homes in Folkestone as councillors approved the Shorncliffe Garrison redevelopment.

The main contention from residents and committee members for the huge 77 hectare development by Taylor Wimpey was access over the narrow Horn Street Bridge.

But after a three hour debate last night councillors voted to give the plans the go ahead.

Several members on Shepway District Council’s planning committee expressed their grave concerns that the bridge was dangerously narrow and prevented traffic flowing smoothly around the new site and the knock-on effect around the rest of Cheriton.

They are due to be built in four phases over the next 15 years.

Earlier the meeting heard councillors say they could not support the application if there was no provision for widening the bridge.

However, head of planning Chris Lewis told members there was no legal backing if they refused the application on those grounds because the provision had not been written into the district’s agreed planning policy set out in law.

He added there is not the “technical data” to prove the bridge is dangerous or could not cope with the proposed redesign and traffic lights to control traffic over the bridge.

Mr Lewis told the meeting the council would struggle to defend its position and waste valuable taxpayers’ money should Taylor Wimpey appeal.

Councillors agreed that on the whole the plan was extremely good.

Outline planning permission was given to 906 homes and full permission for a further 294 in the area to the north known as The Stadium behind Royal Military Avenue.

The plans also include retaining some of the older buildings from the site's past as army barracks to preserve its heritage after English Heritage listed some of the sites it deemed worth keeping.