An appeal into controversial plans to build 100 homes on a green field at Minster, Sheppey, next to a narrow country road is to be held in a working men's club.

The original room allocated by Swale council was deemed too small to cope with the numbers expected to debate plans for the proposed development west of Elm Lane.

Swale councillor Cameron Beart (Con, Halfway and Queenborough) objected to the initial choice.

He said: "I became concerned that due to the ongoing works at Swale House and the Council Chamber and Committee Room being unable to accommodate the appeal hearing, it was being proposed by the planning department that it would be held in the Assembly Room, one of the smallest conference rooms in the building.

"They also suggested that they would not be able to hold the meeting hybrid so no members of the public could listen or contribute online which, combined with the small room being used, would severely limit those who could participate."

After raising concerns with Swale's head of planning, the location has been changed.

Cllr Beart said: "I am pleased to see that the council and the planning inspectorate have now agreed to hold the appeal hearing at Minster Working Men's Club."

The hearing will start at 10am on Wednesday, September 14. The public can attend and may comment at the Inspector’s discretion.

The original application was submitted to by AAH Planning Consultants in 2020 and was for 150 homes. It is now going to appeal because the council did not respond in time.

Councillors have since held a site meeting and at a subsequent planning meeting rejected the plans.

There are also outline applications pending to build another 108 homes in the area: 64 at the back of Nelson Avenue with the demolition of an existing bungalow to provide access and 44 off Elm Lane backing onto Drake Avenue, also with the need to demolish a house for access. A development for 64 homes at The Slips off Scocles Road has already been approved.

Among the objectors to the latest development is John Stanford, vice-chairman Minster Parish Council's planning and transportation committee. He said: "The proposal for the development of a substantial greenfield site is not something that we are very happy with.

"The area lies within the open countryside in a predominantly rural setting outside the local planned development area as exists at the moment.

"Scocles Road is critically overloaded already, as will Elm Lane become with poor visibility on dangerous bends, narrow pinch points, and inadequate speed restrictions culminating in queues and tailbacks at the junction with the A2500 Lower Road which is itself operating above the design capacity."

View all the plans here with references 21/503124/OUT; 20/504408/OUT and 21/502256/OUT.