There are fears part of Whitstable is being “completely swamped” with housing developments after plans were unveiled for a 270-home estate.

Land off the Old Thanet Way is being eyed up for the sprawling scheme - complete with shopping and community facilities and a long-called for park and ride service - after it was earmarked in Canterbury City Council’s housing blueprint.

Residents have been asked to comment on the proposals after developers Catesby Estates launched a consultation for the estate, called Benacre View.

The plans could see a park and ride service running from the site, which is near Duncan Down, into Whitstable town centre.

But some fear the increasing number of new estates in the area will rob Whitstable of its green barrier and eventually merge the town into Herne Bay.

The consultation website states: “In accordance with the emerging housing allocation, the proposals include the provision of a park and bus facility.

“The proposed car park will provide space for circa 200 to 300 cars, users of the car park can then catch the bus into Whitstable town centre.

“This will help relieve some of the peak time congestion within the town centre.”

It is envisaged 30% of the homes - or up to 81 - will be affordable.

This means they will be a combination of discounted rent, shared ownership housing or discounted sale for first-time buyers.

There would be up to 270 new homes with a “mix of house sizes and types”, ranging from one- to five-bed houses, including bungalows.

Catesby Estates is also proposing a new on-site local shopping or community facility and “significant” open space including children’s play areas and informal areas for play and recreation.

"The Thanet Way is about to be completely swamped with housing developments which are unsustainable and are a nightmare for residents who live off it..."

And there is also space for community allotments should there be demand highlighted through the consultation process, the developer says.

The main access to Benacre View is proposed from the Old Thanet Way (A2990), with new “high-quality walking and cycling links” through the site to Duncan Down.

This will include a new crossing on the Old Thanet Way, along with improvements to walking and cycling connections to Whitstable.

“The masterplan for the site has adopted a landscape-led approach reflecting the surrounding context and the site’s topography,” the consultation added.

“The existing hedgerows, trees and the woodland around the boundary of the site will be retained wherever possible and will be integrated into proposed open spaces.

“Where loss of trees or hedgerows are required to facilitate the formation of vehicular or pedestrian accesses, new planting will be provided elsewhere in the site.

“In addition, new planting as part of the streets and public open spaces will be provided to create an enhanced landscaped backdrop in views towards the site from the north.”

A range of “wildlife friendly features will also be incorporated”, according to the developer, which will be in addition to soft landscaping which will include habitats such as grasslands and large verges.

Benacre View was earmarked in Canterbury City Council’s draft Local Plan, which is the authority’s housing blueprint up to 2045.

Catesby Estates is preparing an outline planning application - with the public consultation helping form the proposals.

“We need an enforceable green gap around Whitstable to prevent us merging into Herne Bay...”

The public consultation, which can be accessed here, will end on Tuesday, January 3.

But Gorrell councillor Val Kenny (Lab) has raised concerns about the growing number of developments in the area.

“The Thanet Way is about to be completely swamped with housing developments which are unsustainable and are a nightmare for residents who live off it,” she said.

“Yet again we are being forced to accept car-dependent sprawls from developers who offer little in the way of affordable housing. These developments are unsustainable.

“Transport links are poor, infrastructure is collapsing and our green spaces are being destroyed by pollution.

“We need an enforceable green gap around Whitstable to prevent us merging into Herne Bay.”

Cllr Kenny says she will be holding a residents’ meeting on the scheme at The Whitstable School at 7pm on January 12.