Thousands of new homes are being built in Ashford

The Sustainable Development Commission (SDC) said new communities "aren't always coming up to scratch".

Spokeswoman Rebecca Willis said: "People want safe, attractive and affordable places to live."

Building projects in the Kent town need more facilities, more transport, and further consideration of climate change and water supplies, the SDC said.

But Richard Alderton, Ashford council's head of planning, said the authority could not "double the size of a town like Ashford relying solely on using brownfield sites".

He said: "There simply aren't enough of them."

Mr Alderton said the SDC's report "appears to use very limited analysis which hasn't understood the depth of technical work and planning Ashford Borough Council and its partners have undertaken to ensure Ashford's growth happens a sustainable way".

Adding that Ashford had "an excellent track record of not building on floodplains and providing extra flood defences", he said: "The report's analysis is wrong - we believe Ashford is an ideal location for housing growth."

SDC research said one area of new housing, Repton Park, had been left without a supermarket and local school.

Communities can be green and prosperous Rebecca Willis

It also said Ashford's flooding history had led to some developments being built on the outskirts, but that made it difficult to provide adequate services, and residents were "heavily dependent on car transport".

Ms Willis said: "The priority must be to turn our existing communities into eco-towns.

"Communities can be green and prosperous, with well-planned public transport and great facilities."

The report called for new housing to be connected with existing communities, more co-ordination of funding, and more consultation.

It also wanted to see more planning for green spaces, better water standards such as installation of water meters, and further energy efficiency measures such as installation of high-quality insulation.