GILLINGHAM councillor and portfolio holder for planning David Walsh says residents can be proud of their involvement in helping plan around 2,000 additional homes for the area.

But he told an area planning committee that many are now disappointed that speculative developers are again pushing their proposals “through the back door”.

​Cllr Walsh said that because the Lodden Lakes scheme has taken so long the area’s housing supply figures have changed showing a shortfall, which has given an excuse for developers to try for other sites, which local people might not see as suitable.

The senior councillor said that when local people’s involvement in the masterplanning had been praised by the former Secretary of State, Sajid Javid as an exemplar, it was hard for some to understand why speculative developers were now challenging what had been agreed locally.

Cllr Wash was speaking at an area planning committee which approved the second phase of the Lodden Lakes scheme for 115 homes, a development which he said was widely welcomed by the town.

The site, to the south-east of the Lakes and close to the Brickfields estate, will link in with the adjoining first phase of around 90 properties.

Access to the site will be off the B3092 with a link road through to the first phase and the introduction of road plateau features to slow traffic within the development.

The Taylor Wimpey second phase, over 6.75 hectares, will include 28 affordable homes. It will also result in financial contributions to bus and rail improvements and to laying out the principal street for the overall development.

Other contributions would be made to a community hall, local play areas, informal open space along the River Lodden and for school provision and the NHS. A more formal play area will be built close to the centre of the site.

Gillingham town council had supported the scheme which is the final part of Gillingham’s southern extension of more than 2,000 homes.

Among the affordable homes are a mix of shared ownership properties and those for rent with fifteen 2-bed homes, nine 3-bed; two 4-bed and two 1-bed. The other properties, in a range of sizes and designs, will be open market homes.

The move to accept the application was proposed by Gillingham ward councillor Val Pothecary and seconded by Cllr Belinda Ridout.