The appearance of double yellow lines on a housing estate has enraged homeowners.

The parking restrictions have recently appeared on many of the roads on the Berkeley Homes development in Holborough,near Snodland, forcing people to rent spaces elsewhere.

A government planning requirement has meant that on average each house has been allocated 1.5 parking spaces and until recently car owners simply parked on the streets. But signs threatening towing and hefty fines have forced them to rethink.

People have complained the quota is unrealistic for a rural development as many households have more than one person needing a car to get to work.

Robert Williamson, 30, who lives in Poynden Drive with his fiancee, fears the new parking restrictions are making it hard for people wanting to sell up.

“The estate just looks incredibly ugly covered in double yellow lines and signs,” he said. “A lot of people trying to sell their houses can’t and a lot of people looking at buying houses here won’t buy because of the way it looks.”

Mr Williamson said a lack of visitors parking spaces was also causing problems.

More than 100 residents were at a meeting on Tuesday night to discuss the matter with representatives from Berkely Homes.

The developers are sending out letters to every resident on the estate, asking for their opinions on the situation, during which time the parking restrictions have been suspended.

Mr Williamson hopes to set up a residents’ association and organise a follow-up meeting with the developers next week.

Berkely Homes operations manager Samuel Warren said they understood householders’ concerns but wanted to ensure the safety of all.

“A resident has complained to us in the past that she bumped her car because of crowded parking and we are concerned about access for emergency vehicles, plus the safety of pedestrians,” he said. “There are some people on the estate who are happy about the new parking restrictions.”

The company is also looking to provide some temporary visitors parking until the development is finished, by which time it believes the number of parking spaces will have evened out.