Sprawling 8,000-home town that runs on batteries is coming to the Kent coast - sparking fears of traffic chaos close to top UK seaside hotspot

By OLIVIA DAY, ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR, AUSTRALIA Published: 17:11, 30 June 2026 | Updated: 17:14, 30 June 2026 A sprawling 8,000-home 'mega town' designed to run on all-electric power will soon begin construction despite residents' fears it will cause traffic chaos.  Otterpool Park Garden Town will be constructed just minutes from Hythe, one of the UK's most popular seaside towns, and with direct access to the A20.  Developers say the scheme will deliver 'housing for a generation', with a portion of the 8,500 homes set aside as affordable housing.  The town, which spans 1,700 acres, will include seven primary schools, two secondary schools, five parks, hotels, shops and health centres. The masterplan makes allowances for up to 10,000 homes in total. Otterpool Park is set to be larger than neighbouring towns including Hythe, with the first 300 homes scheduled for land near Westenhanger railway station. But existing residents fear the development will spark traffic chaos on already-congested roads when thousands head to the beach on a hot day.  Locals gathered at a public exhibition in Sellindge last week to share their thoughts on the project, with preparatory work slated to begin as early as 2028.  Steve and Carolyn Ridgway, who have lived in the area for 35 years, said local roads were already 'overburdened and congested' by current traffic levels.  The garden town, which spans 1,700 acres, will include seven primary schools, two secondary schools, five parks, hotels, shops and health centres (a publicity image is pictured) 'How it's going to cope with another 10,000 or 20,000 cars - it beggars belief,' Mrs Ridgway told local publication KentOnline. Her husband predicts residents will first battle congestion from construction works before their new neighbours have even moved in. 'It's the roads, like Stone Street, Lympne Hill - they seem to have no concept of how busy they are and how much new development is going to add,' he said.  But others threw their support behind the project.  Local business owner Gerry Pack said Otterpool Park would help Folkestone and Hythe District Council (FHDC) reach its housing targets set by the government. 'I think FHDC desperately needs new homes as they are falling far short of the target, and I don't see the needs being met with smaller sites,' he said.  Otterpool Park will be an all-electric development, with homes to use electric heating, electric cooking, EV chargers, solar panels and battery storage.  Plans show the town will generate much of its own renewable electricity, store energy in batteries and export surplus power back to the grid. Otterpool Park plans to run on as little fossil fuel as possible, instead using renewable electricity (artist's impression pictured)  The move is one of several measures aimed at limiting its environmental impact, with electric vehicle charging points also planned. Half of the development has been dedicated to green space as part of a project mission to 'enable and encourage healthy, active lifestyles'.  Residents will enjoy cycling and walking paths in the wetlands as well as open countryside and landscaped public areas.  The project secured a major win earlier this year after Kent County Council approved plans for a new wastewater treatment plant.  The approved scheme includes the plant, integrated wetlands, a primary substation, access roads, pipelines and related infrastructure. Promoters successfully argued the project would prevent Otterpool Park wastewater seeping into the River Stour catchment and a nearby nature reserve.  Preliminary construction, including roads, utility cables and enabling works, is scheduled to start in 2028, with the first homes expected in 2029. The comments below have not been moderated. The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline. By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual We will automatically post your comment and a link to the news story to your Facebook timeline at the same time it is posted on MailOnline. To do this we will link your MailOnline account with your Facebook account. We’ll ask you to confirm this for your first post to Facebook. You can choose on each post whether you would like it to be posted to Facebook. Your details from Facebook will be used to provide you with tailored content, marketing and ads in line with our Privacy Policy.