Plans to build almost 50 new homes in a village will combat a “well-documented” decline in local services such as schools, pubs and public transport, developers claim.

An application for a residential development in the village of Great Totham was submitted to Maldon District Council by Mersea Homes.

The proposals say growth is needed to help villages remain sustainable, and that nearly one quarter of Great Totham’s population is of retirement age.

The application says: “The general decline of rural services over recent decades has been well-documented, with the closure of village schools, loss of pubs and declining use of public transport all symptomatic of changes to the way we live and work, and also symptomatic of a decline in younger aged people in our rural villages.”

Maldon and Burnham Standard:

It claims providing small bungalows and smaller homes so elderly people can downsize will free up larger homes suitable for younger families.

Homes specifically for younger families would also be included in the mix of housing.

According to the planning statement, a similar scheme in the site was refused earlier this year due to its impact on the countryside and an absence of information about potential highway safety concerns at school times.

The proposed site is located in Manor Farm, Walden House Road, near Great Totham Primary School.

A highway safety audit accompanies this latest application, which did not raise any issues with the proposed vehicle access points from Walden House Road.

The statement says the proposed development would be contained within the wider landscape and would not be highly visible.

Of the 49 homes, 20 are proposed to be affordable housing.

In addition to the homes, a footpath between Walden House Road and Catchpole Lane, public open space and parking, drainage and other infrastructure are proposed.

The council’s north western area planning committee is expected to make a decision over the proposals later this year.