A DECISION has been made on a controversial planning appeal which had generated a storm of opposition.

Plans were refused for a 97-home development on land east and west of Top Road in Tolleshunt Knights.

The refusal of the plans led to developers, Kier Group submitting an appeal.

The plans included a mixture of smaller one and two-bedroom properties for first time buyers, families and downsizers and larger three, four and five-bedroom family homes.

There was a total of 102 public objections were received from residents concerned about the lack of doctors, dentists and shops in the area and questioned how existing services would cope with an increase in patients.

Many residents raised concerns about the safety of the roads, with some predicting risks to pedestrian safety due to the narrow roads.

The planning inspector dismissed the appeal due to concerns about the access to regularly required services and the effects of the development on the character and appearance of the area.

In a statement they said: “Tolleshunt Knights is a village that is located within countryside just outside the larger settlement of Tiptree.

“It is of a rather linear and elongated form, comprising mainly ribbon development along the traversing roads, with some small housing estates off these.

“There is no clearly identifiable centre to the village and development extends over quite a wide area.

“The housing proposed is within sites to both sides of Top Road, which are located towards the far end of the settlement from Tiptree.

“The village hall is nearby and existing bus stops would be within 400m of the new homes.

“The council’s latest rural facilities survey lists a shopper and commuter bus service, hall, public open space, church, children’s play, outdoor sports, churches and recycling point.

“Although this survey would confer Tolleshunt Knights medium ranking, given the number of smaller villages, it nonetheless contains little by way of regularly required services, with no convenience store, village pub or primary school.”