A BID to build 13 new homes opposite a pub in Althorne has proved controversial after sparking a string of objections.

Residents have made objections to an application to build eight affordable apartments and five detached market houses opposite The Three Horseshoes pub in Burnham Road.

Maldon and Burnham Standard: The Three Horseshoes pub (Google Street View)The Three Horseshoes pub (Google Street View)

The plans also include three new accesses on to Burnham Road, private drives, vehicle parking and manoeuvring areas, gardens and landscaping.

The eight affordable units would be made up of two blocks of flats in the western part of the site, with four homes in each building.

The detached market homes would front the road in the eastern part of the site.

A number of residents have objected to the plans for reasons including it being outside the village envelope, infrastructure, flooding, and it being “over-development” for the size of the site.

One resident said: “This application is for an unsustainable site that is situated just south of the B1010 in Althorne.

“It is in a rural location outside the village development boundary and will effectively block the vista to the south over the Crouch Estuary that is valued by residents and visitors as mentioned on the village design statement.”

The same resident said recent applications for development in Althorne have also been rejected as being unsustainable locations.

They added: “Reasons for lack of sustainability in Althorne are lack of effective public transport services, lack of facilities, post office, shop etc.

“There is just one pub in the village, opposite the site in fact, but the other – the Black Lion – in the north of the village closed many years ago and is now a private house.”

Another villager raised reports of sewage flooding issues which they said would be “exacerbated” if the plans go ahead.

They said: “The houses at the bottom of the village, Summerhill/Garden Close area, and also in Mayland suffer from serious sewage flooding issues caused by the pumping station being unable to cope with the number of houses we have already.

“This site would just exacerbate our woes if developed.”

However planning inspectors are recommending the housing is approved.

In the committee report it states the proposal would have substantial benefits which “would outweigh the conflict that the development would have with the development plan.”

The report says the volume of affordable housing proposed would “weigh heavily in favour of the development”.

Maldon District Council is set to rule on the plans on Wednesday.