AN INVESTIGATION has been launched into a new 360-home estate set to be built in Lawford after a resident complained to the Local Government Ombudsman.

The outline plan for the development on land off Bromley Road was given the go-ahead by Tendring Council in June 2016.

Rose Builders’ scheme is – on 23 hectares of farmland - will include a village green, playground, parking for the primary school public toilets.

Concerned villagers hit out at the proposals, at the time claiming there is a lack of infrastructure to support such an “influx” of homes and along with other developments, it would destroy the character of the area.

But permission was granted and a resident has now complained to the Local Government Ombudsman claiming the council did not properly consider its impact on the village and the railway underpass.

The resident, who does not want to be named said: “The complaint concerns a 360-house development in Lawford and its impact on transport, traffic, and safety, particularly the A137 railway underpass at Manningtree.

"The investigation is a large one and I have been informed that it may take longer than a normal investigation as it will involve more than one council.

“The ombudsman sent our complaint to Tendring Council on July 17.

“They have also written to Essex County Council as the local highway authority and statutory consultee for application.”

The complaint says the council granted planning permission for the homes without properly considering the cumulative impact of all other nearby development proposals on the A137 railway underpass.

It comes after ongoing concerns over the number of planning applications submitted for housing estates in Lawford, Mistley and Brantham including 300 homes given the go-ahead in Clacton Road, Mistley.

The complaint also lists six other applications totalling 381 new homes.

It adds: “The council also failed to mitigate the severe impact of the application on local roads, which affect road safety.”

A Tendring Council spokesman said: “The planning application in question was considered by the Planning Committee on 28 February 2017.

"Having considered the applicant’s transport assessment and the potential cumulative impacts on traffic, the Highway Authority has concluded that this development is one of three that, together, could have a severe impact on traffic and queuing at the railway crossing that might need to be mitigated.

"The three developments in question are this application, the Brantham development and the Long Road application.

“Published reports demonstrate that consideration was given to the highways capacity, and the reports state that county councils have agreed that all three developments will need to make a proportionate financial contribution towards a £150,000 fund that will be used by ECC Highways to implement traffic management measures at the railway crossing if ongoing monitoring shows them to be necessary.”