Plans for 100 homes on the edge of the South Downs National Park have been submitted for approval.

The Argus can exclusively reveal that the development will include 40% affordable housing as well as a playing field. It is set for land on the north-east outskirts of Ovingdean.

If voted through, developers expect the first occupants to move into the homes by the end of 2016.

However, Simon Kirby, MP for Brighton Kemptown, has spoken out against the plans, calling the area “completely inappropriate” for the development.

He said: “The application will ruin the village feel of Rottingdean, Woodingdean and Ovingdean as well as placing a huge strain on local services and infrastructure such as the local roads, which are already under great pressure.

“The strength of feeling against development at this site was clearly evident at the public meeting I spoke at on this subject, which was attended by hundreds of residents.”

The plans were first put forward by Bristol-based Lightwood Strategic after Brighton and Hove City Council’s future housing plan was thrown out by the government.

Earlier this year, a proposal for 112 new homes on the land was presented to locals. However, after feedback, the developers revised the plans and have presented a new proposal with a reduced 100 homes.

James Sorrentino, director of Lightwood, said: “We genuinely want to create a fantastic scheme that will create a legacy of somewhere really nice to live.

“We have altered the plans and reduced the number of houses to 100 so there is more space for planting and landscaping. There is now a lot more space and we think it is very much in keeping with the surroundings.”

The new plans, which have been exclusively revealed to The Argus, include 100 homes in fields bordered by Falmer Road, The Vale and Ovingdean Road.

The properties, which vary in shape and size, include 40% affordable housing. All the properties have parking spaces and there is also a central playing field surrounded by trees.

The only access road is from Ovingdean Road, which splits off into five streets once on the estate.

There will also be paths linking the estate to Falmer Road and Ovingdean Road.

Mr Sorrentino added that if the plans went through the council by the end of the year, they could start work on the site by mid 2015. He said it would then be a further 18 months before the first occupants could move in.

However, Mr Kirby has urged the council to look at brownfield sites for their housing needs.

He added: “I would encourage all constituents who share my concerns to contact the council setting out their reasons for objection. Together we will fight this application all the way.”

Georgia Wrighton, Sussex director of Campaign to Protect Rural England, said they would be filing an official objection to the plans.

She said: “While the land may not actually be in the National Park it starts just over the road. The only reason the land was not made part of the National Park was because it was considered part of the school’s playing field.

“We think the development would ruin the surroundings, which back on to the National Park and we will be registering our objections. The area is also rich in chalk grassland and is home to red thistle.”