CONTROVERSIAL plans for a housing development have been re-submitted despite previous refusal.
Plans have been put forward for a development of up to 40 homes in Tillingham.
Land east of Birch Road could be used for two one-bedroom homes, nine two-bedroom homes, 13 three-bedroom homes and six four-bedroom homes.
These 30 homes will be market homes and another ten homes are proposed as social, affordable or intermediate rent.
Three one-bedroom homes, four two-bedroom homes and three three-bedroom homes are proposed in this category.
The 4.4-acre site is currently used for agricultural purposes.
The plans look to build new vehicular access to the site from the east of Birch Road.
There will be 98 new car parking spaces in the development and 80 spaces for bicycles.
The application says: “The site is identified in Maldon District Council’s ‘Call For Sites’ exercise connected to the ‘Housing and Economic Land Availability Assessment’.
“The site... has been found ‘suitable’ for residential development suggesting that up to 44 new dwellings are appropriate.”
Previous plans for 44 homes were refused by the council and received more than 100 objections from the public.
One of the reasons for refusal was that the site is in a rural location which provides “few services and facilities and limited employment opportunities”.
In response to this, the developer said: “Tillingham has enough services to sustain the day-to-day needs of local residents.
“The council’s own evidence identifies that it has a school - St Nicholas' Primary School - doctors, shops, post office, nursery, pubs - the Fox and Hounds, and Cap and Feathers - fire station, church (St Nicholas'), children’s play area, hall, outdoor sports facilities, shoppers' bus service, recycling point, allotments and is 15 minutes from a town and railway station.”
The developer says the site has been designed to enhance the wildlife habitat in the area and the house designs aim to “provide a transition from urban village to rural countryside”.
Maldon District Council will rule on the plans.
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