New properties on the Kent coast are turning heads for their bright and "lego-like" appearance — some locals in Greatstone aren't happy with the soon-to-be finished homes

The colourful appearance of four “lego-like” homes being built on the Kent coast has shocked neighbours.

The new properties are turning heads in Greatstone, near New Romney, for their different pastel shades inspired by traditional beach huts. Some locals say the three-storey houses look "nothing like" they expected when Folkestone and Hythe District Council (FHDC) first secured planning permission in 2021.

Images at the time showed a far more muted design, but the site was sold in 2023 and the new owners gained approval for amended plans. These plans allowed parts of the exterior to be clad in blue, pink, yellow and green metal panels. Updated images of the plans were not released, however.

The homes are “horrendous”, according to Lee Dryden, who moved to Greatstone with his wife three years ago.

"If I wanted to go where there were houses like that, I'd have moved to somewhere like Brighton," Mr Dryden, 68, said.

"I wouldn't have had a problem if they were like the designs shown on the initial CGIs, but if I knew they were going to look like this, I'd have objected.

"Even if it hasn't affected values of homes around here, I guarantee you what it has done is detract from their sellability.

"They don't fit in any way shape or form."

Some locals have likened the homes, which are being built on former council-owned wasteland in Coast Drive, to Lego.

Clare Chapman, 45, said they look like “containers”.

Clare, a behaviour analyst, said: "When the wasteland was going to be developed on, I was quite open to it because it's better to have some development than just empty wasteland.

"In terms of the colour, they're a bit garish and I didn't realise they were going to be multicoloured - I was surprised.

"It's not my cup of tea but I'm sure they look lovely inside, and the builders have been fantastic with us."

At Varne Boat Club, just in front of the land the homes sit on, construction workers are using the venue's car park while work continues.

Zalan Paksy, the boat club commodore, said the previous design needed a “bit of a lift” and that the colours are “interesting”.

"There's so much special colour that this area has not really had before,” he said.

"When you're driving down, it always captures your attention - you can't ignore it."

Work is expected to be complete within the next four weeks. Workers have been at the site since June.

Anthony Ralph, who founded TG Designer Homes alongside his wife Theresa in 2005, said the homes his company is developing were made to "houses of interest".

Mr Ralph, 50, said: "We wanted to ensure they were unique in design and they represented our modern take on a traditional beach hut.

"When we build designs, people don't pay full attention to what's going on in the background.

"The public are seeing it behind scaffolding at the moment - it will surprise people and they will get used to it.

"We have always been committed to only creating homes that we would be proud of and happy to live in ourselves."

Asked about the comparisons to Lego, Mr Ralph joked: "Who doesn't like Lego?"

In January 2024, FHDC said the amended colour scheme changes were “minor”.

An officer's report stated: "It is not considered it would be harmful to the overall aesthetic of the dwellings and in turn would not have an adverse impact upon the visual amenity of the street scene and surrounding area."

Originally earmarked as holiday lets, the detached properties are now set to become standard homes.

Ground floors have a private two-car port, a bathroom, garden room and a large boat store.

There are three bedrooms on the first floors, with a master bedroom that has an en-suite and dressing room.

Each property has an open-plan kitchen at the top, along with a living and dining area opening onto a large wraparound terrace deck complete with a hot tub and outdoor seating.