AN appeal hearing was held into a council’s decision to refuse permission for a 21 home development in Tillingham.

The application would see four detached, eight semi-detached, and nine terraced houses built on Tillingham Hall Farm, off North Street.

The development would also include garages, parking areas, gardens and new road access to the site from North Street.

It was originally turned down last November, after the council found there to be a lack of affordable housing in the plan, and decided the development would fall outside of the village boundaries.

The developers, The Dean & Chapter of St Paul’s, appealed the decision and a hearing was held at Maldon District Council’s offices on Tuesday, November 22.

The consultant for The Dean & Chapter told the inspector that they were now offering two options with regards to community housing.

They offered to pay a sum of £206,000 to the council in order to offset their requirement of affordable housing, or they offered to allocate five properties on the development as affordable housing.

He also argued that the development would enhance the nearby conservation zone, and not have any visual impact.

The planning inspector noted that there were more than 100 objections to the original plans, and that he had received fifteen letters against the application, and one letter in support of it.

Tillingham Parish Councillor, Kevin Knight, is opposed to the development and said he was surprised by the hearing.

Mr Knight said: “The Dean & Chapter’s proposal that they would include five affordable homes, which is one of the main reasons why it was turned down in the first place, was a bit shocking.

“Originally they said there was no justification to put in the affordable housing and suddenly they find that they can offer five, but it hasn’t swayed me.

“It is not what I would call affordable housing for a start, and my biggest objection is the damage it is going to cause to the conservation area nearby.

“If it gets given the go ahead it is going to cause more traffic, and it will have a devastating effect on the rural image of the village as you enter. This development will be responsible for the loss of a farming community.”