Plans for a development which will increase a town’s population by 10% have been approved.

Proposals for up to 950 homes and a new primary school in Sevenoaks Quarry were put forward in July last year.

Now, despite objections from several parish councils and more than 150 residents, the bid has been approved by Sevenoaks District Council.

The scheme will aim to ease housing supply issues, which have been described as “chronic and acute.”

Outline planning permission was granted for 800 homes, with a further 150 specialist homes for the elderly, business, retail, leisure and sports units, as well as a new school and changes to the highway.

The local authority’s planning officers recommended members approved the scheme, praising the fact that 40% of the homes - 320 in total - are set to be affordable.

Of those affordable homes, 80 will be reserved for first-time buyers.

Cllr Elizabeth Purves (Lib Dem) was in favour of the affordable housing, but criticised the size of the development.

She said: “It will increase Sevenoaks’ population by 10%, which is huge, it’s just too many houses.”

Cllr Nigel Williams (Con) argued: “It’s a very exciting project, I think we’d be mad not to grasp it with both hands

“Allowing this development now saves some very very beautiful parts of the green belt further down the line.”

The site is owned by Tarmac and is currently used as a sand and gravel quarry. It will stay in use while development is under way.

A new roundabout will be installed at the Bat & Ball junction which will hopefully ease traffic in the “congestion hotspot”.

Planning documents also revealed a barn would be given to the district’s Scouts to be converted into a centre for them.

67% of the quarry will be maintained as open space, and the large lake will provide “opportunities for watersports activities,” the officer said.

The quarry currently has two large lakes, which are moving naturally due to the use of the quarry.

“Essentially the lakes will push northwards and eastwards on the site, creating an area available for development,” members were told by a planning officer.

David McCabe, head of land development for Tarmac, spoke to the meeting to support the scheme.

Mr McCabe said they plan for the estate to deliver “a lasting legacy for future generations,” and said the historic oasthouse in the quarry will be brought “back to its former glory and into community use.”

He added: “Sevenoaks is a fantastic place, but like many areas there are a number of challenges and the lack of affordable places to live is definitely on that list, in fact it was a key concern when we spoke to local residents about our vision to redevelop the quarry.”

A planning officer told members at the meeting: “Sevenoaks’ housing need is significant and long-term.

“It’s been described by inspectors recently as being chronic and acute.”

The officer added that the “benefits would clearly outweigh the harms to the green belt.”

Councillors on the committee raised concerns regarding traffic and local infrastructure.

“This development is surely the most substantial project that will ever be seen in Sevenoaks town, and its of great significance across the district given the constraints we have heard on housing delivery,” said Cllr Claire Shea (Lib Dem), who sits on both SDC and Sevenoaks Town Council, which objected to the scheme.

“The school is a welcome addition, but healthcare is not mentioned in the proposal.”

“Existing GP surgeries are massively under resourced as any local resident will readily tell you,” she added.

A council officer told members space had been allocated for a GP surgery, but there was no uptake on the offer from the NHS.

The development is expected to generate £10 - 12 million in Community Infrastructure Levies to the local authorities for local services, including healthcare and education.

Cllr John Edwards-Winser (Con), expressed fears about water supply.

“I’m more than a little concerned,” he said.

“I’ve done some calculations and by the time this development is finished I reckon there’s going to be somewhere in excess of 100 million litres of water required for the site.

“I am concerned that it’s going to come from the Darent Valley and the Darenth is going to run dry like it did about ten years ago.”

Thames Water responded to the council’s call for comment several times, but South East Water did not.

However, a planning official explained it was unlikely to be an issue, as “the water authorities have to supply a connection for any development coming forward.”

The plans were passed with 17 votes in favour at a meeting on June 1.