A Developer has put in a fresh bid to build more than 20 homes on the same land which has already seen a similar scheme turned down by planners.

Wickford Development Company had its bid for 23 homes on land adjacent to Tollesbury Road in Tolleshunt D’Arcy rejected last year.

A fresh application has now been submitted to Maldon District Council for the same number of houses on the same site.

A public meeting has been arranged by Tolleshunt D’Arcy Parish Council on Friday, March 29, at 7.30pm in the village hall to discuss the plans.

Parish clerk Michelle Curtis said: “This is a new planning application and any comments submitted to Maldon District Council regarding the previous application for this site will not be taken into consideration.”

The land was once owned by the late author Margery Allingham – famous for creating gentleman sleuth Albert Campion – and her husband, who lived at D’Arcy House in South Street and allowed the site to be used for public events.

The land was later sold off and in the late 1990s trees were planted on the site with funding from the Forestry Commission.

In total, 75 objection letters were submitted to the council for the previous application.

The bid was refused on the grounds it would harm the street scene, would fail to provide a sustainable community and would result in a significant change to the character and appearance of the woodland area.

The new development would include nine affordable dwellings, parking public open space and landscaping if it gets the go-ahead

For details, search FUL/MAL/19/00287 on the district council’s planning portal.