The developer has pressed the council for a quick decision on the bid, urging that the homes are needed to prevent a new shortage of housing in the town.

Guild Homes has already sold 80% of the homes at its 236-property Strathmore Fields development and it hopes to extend the site west towards the town bypass by another 245 homes.

However, the farmland the firm aims to build on lies outside the local development plan boundary, The Courier reports.

Guild Homes has warned that rising demand for the homes could bump up prices for buyers looking to move to the area. As a result, the firm has asked Angus Council to make a decision on their bid within four months.

Detailed plans show 245 houses on the 30-hectare site at Garth Farm. Bounded by Kirriemuir Road to the north, the site sits west of the company’s under-construction Strathmore Fields development.

If approved, the new homes are to be built in three phases. The plans would extend development of Forfar to near the Kirriemuir junction on the A90 town bypass.

When the plans were first submitted, concerns were voiced over increased pressure on local infrastructure including primary school and GP provision.

The company said: “The proposed development will provide a seamless extension to the ongoing development at Strathmore Fields. Over 80% (of the homes there) are now sold or under contract leaving only a selection of the larger properties available.

“To date, the development has delivered 36 affordable homes which are all now occupied. The new proposal is a direct response to an identified housing land shortage in the Forfar area.”

Guild Homes added: “It is clear that there are a number of allocated sites in the area which have failed to deliver any housing or are providing houses at a much slower rate than originally anticipated.

“As a result, less houses have been delivered than are required. Unless a new site is provided promptly this will have a knock-on impact on house prices within the area, with demand outstripping supply.”

Affordable homes and smaller mainstream houses are in the first phase.

The company added: “We would request that this application is treated as a priority and determined within the statutory fourmonth period as provided for major planning applications.”