The site was purchased from Henley Camland and is one of the UK’s largest residential schemes.

The Eastern Quarry site has planning permission for 6,250 homes in total as well as for commercial purposes along with school and leisure facilities.

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Austen Reid, group director of development at Clarion Housing Group, said: "Our joint venture with Countryside is based on a shared commitment to quality and placemaking and a clear indication of our ability and capacity to develop at scale.”

Infrastructure work on the site is due to begin this month and the first serviced land parcel is due for handover in summer 2019.

Work will then start on the first 250 new homes, which are expected to complete in late 2020.

Iain McPherson, managing director at Countryside Properties, added: “With Bluewater close by and excellent transport links from Ebbsfleet International station, this will be a great place to live and we look forward to working with Clarion Housing Group and Henley Camland on its future development."