Plans for Ebbsfleet homes and jobs agreed

Plans for about 22,600 new homes in Kent with the creation of up to 60,000 jobs have been given the go-ahead.

The project at Kent Thameside in Ebbsfleet has been agreed by government ministers, three Kent councils and developers, Land Securities.

Over £100m has been invested in the site by the developers but plans were delayed over the need for further investment and transport improvements.

The first 1,500 homes at Eastern Quarry are expected to be completed by 2020.

A further 3,000 homes are due to be finished by 2030/31.

Eastern Quarry forms part of a development of about 22,600 homes to be built over the next 20 years.

Kent County Council, Dartford and Gravesham borough councils and the Department of Transport have been working with Land Securities on transport improvement plans in the area.

Grant Shapps, the housing minister, said: "The Kent Thameside development - offering the opportunity for tens of thousands of new homes - has been stuck on the drawing board for a whole decade."

Development of transport links include improvements to the A2 Ebbsfleet and Bean junctions and Dartford town centre.

Kent County Council leader Paul Carter said: "We have real growth ambitions and this site signifies our intent to unlock the potential of the Thames Gateway."