THE first phase of plans which would see more than 1,000 houses and a primary school built will be voted on by councillors next week.

Maldon District Council will consider the proposals, which also include a care home and shops, by Countryside Properties (UK) Ltd for the first 160 homes in Maypole Road, Heybridge, at a planning committee meeting on Thursday, April 7.

This would be the first phase of North Heybridge Garden Suburb, a mix-use development of up to 1,138 homes in the site which was granted outline approval on appeal in 2019.

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According to a council report, 30 per cent of the homes will be affordable houses.

A design and access statement says: “The development of this site can offer a significant number of benefits to Heybridge that not only help to deliver the quantum of housing set out in within the development plan, but also create a high quality residential environment, new community and leisure facilities and extensive hard and soft infrastructure that will benefit the population within the wider catchment area.”

The application up for approval next week will be for the biggest of the three sites allocated.

In addition to the 160 houses, the application is also seeking permission for their appearance, landscaping, layout and scale, as well as vehicle access.

A relief road between Broad Street Green Road and Langford Road has been proposed as part of the wider scheme.

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One of the parcels of land on which the first phase of houses would be built  is located between the relief road and a spine road to the north and south.

According to the report, a 120 bed care home will be part of the wider scheme, along with a primary school and early years childcare facility.

Retail, commercial and community buildings,  gas and electricity sub-stations, footpath and cycle links, on-site drainage and open space are also being proposed, but are not part of Phase 1.

No statutory consultees have objected to the proposals.

However, Mid Essex Clinical Commissioning Group noted the original outline application promised a financial contribution of £430,000 to healthcare from the developer.