A PLANNING consultant has slammed plans which campaigners say “will create misery for tens of thousands” of people.

Countryside and Essex County Council Property Services have submitted an application to Chelmsford City Council for a residential development on land north west Of Hamberts Farm in Burnham Road.

Its plans for South Woodham Ferrers include building up to 1,020 homes, an 88-bedroom residential care home, a neighbourhood centre, community centre, and primary school.

Specialist planning consultants SCP have sent an objection to the plans to the city council.

The consultants had been instructed by South Woodham Ferrers Infrastructure Group to review and advise on the plans’ transport impacts.

As currently submitted, SCP believe the application should be refused on highways safety grounds and due to the “likely severe impact” the extra traffic will have on the transport network in terms of capacity and congestion.

Councillor Mark Raffray, who lives in North Fambridge has also opposed the proposed development.

Burnham Road runs from the Dengie peninsula to the north of South Woodham Ferrers and connects to the A132.

Mr Raffray says it is a route of “major importance” to Dengie residents who are “highly dependent” on it for commuting, commercial deliveries and emergency services access.

His view is that the submitted application has not properly evaluated adverse impacts on surrounding communities, especially on those in the Dengie.

Campaigners from Woodham Infrastructure Group have insisted it is not opposing the houses, which it says are much-needed.

The group condemns the infrastructure plans which it says will “create misery for tens of thousands”.

A spokesman for Woodham Infrastructure Group said: “This will severely disadvantage the current South Woodham Ferrers residents and businesses, and those who will have homes in the new development, and many, if not most, of those who live and work in the Dengie peninsula and rely on road transport.”

The group is urging residents who will be affected by the plans to make their comments by January 7.

Visit tinyurl.com/2kne4avt online and search for 21/01961/OUT to make a comment on the planning application.

An Essex County Council spokesperson said: "Any planning application will be decided by Chelmsford City Council.

"Work is currently being carried out as part of the Chelmsford Local Plan which outlines the highways infrastructure which developers need to provide to support new housing in South Woodham Ferrers.

"This includes new access points, roundabouts, bus services, additional pedestrian and cycle connections and improvements to the local road network.

"It is important that infrastructure to support continued growth across key areas in Essex is considered by all Local Plans.

"Plans for this area have previously undergone an Examination in Public (EIP) and were approved by the inspector in terms of highways and transport."