A new 900-home village opposite Westwood Cross is set to take a step closer when councillors meet tonight.

Westwood Village - which also includes a school, businesses, hotels, restaurants and bars - is to be discussed at a special meeting of Thanet council's planning committee.

The proposals by developers Greenacre Thanet are set to be built on fields between Haine Road and Manston Court Road over the next decade.

The plans have already won the backing of Thanet District Council (TDC) planners and councillors are being asked to accept the development in principle.

But planning permission will not be granted immediately as council officers need to agree conditions with the developers around 44 technical aspects of the development and funding arrangements for services.

TDC recieved 10 objections to the plans and community groups including the Broadstairs Society and Margate Civic Society raised concerns.

Sir Roger Gale, MP for North Thanet, also objected with concerns about the plans intruding on to neighbouring land.

Both parish councils - St Peters and Broadstairs Town Council and Manston Parish Council - said they opposed the plans.

Annabel Hemmings, the planning officer for TDC, said the plans were acceptable but asked for councillors to defer the decision to council officers to iron out details with Greenacre.

In her 60-page report, Ms Hemmings said: "The provision of up to 900 dwellings would make a significant contribution to the district's housing supply, supporting economic and social dimensions of sustainable dimensions with employment provided through construction of the site.

"In principle the development would not result in significant harm to the living conditions of neighbouring occupiers.

"An indicative masterplan has been submitted to demonstrate how the 900 residential units, school and other commercial and retail development could be accommodated within the site.

"The development provides social benefits through the provision of a new primary school, contributions to education, social and health care agreed by the applicant."

Ms Hemmings added the development would include 30% affordable housing and that those factors led to "significant weight attached in favour of the application".

Planning policy being drafted by TDC says the site can take up to 1,200 new homes with another site off Old Haine Road having capacity for a further 250 homes.