Essex 275 homes plan for Maldon sees 'serious concerns'

Residents and councillors fear the impacts of around 275 new homes, which are being proposed near to Maldon Cemetery in London Road.

The plans, by LSL Partners and Cirrus Land, also include £4.8million in financial contributions, a new nursery, and an extension to Maldon Cemetery.

The plans were discussed at a Maldon District Council planning meeting on December 16. A decision on the plans was put on hold for a meeting to be held at a later date, but some of the councillors have indicated they intend to refuse planning permission.

Speaking at the meeting, worried resident Sarah Dodsley raised concerns about the plans.

Ms Dodsley said: “It is cut off from Maldon by the A414, has no services in walking distance, no school capacity and no guaranteed public transport. Members, the harms are real and enduring, the benefits are uncertain.”

Plans - A proposal for 275 homes which received 100 objections from residents has yet to be decided (Image: Google Maps)

Independent councillor Wendy Stamp raised concerns about the wider impact on roads in Essex.

She said: “It’s not just Maldon. Heybridge, getting a bus to Burnham, the one or two we have a day and the links that everybody says are sustainable. It is the impact it has.

“This is the reality, it’s not just the data, we live here and we’ve got to get from A to B and that’s getting harder. It’s alright saying people aren’t going to get in their cars, they are.”

The plans had been recommended for approval by planning officers ahead of the meeting.

Planning processess see officers assess plans and make recommendations, but councillors on the planning committee are free to make their own vote. Applicants are then able to submit an appeal if they are not happy with the outcome. Appeals are then decided by the planning inspectorate.

Site - The site would include a new nursery to the southeast and an extension to the cemetery (Image: Google Maps)

Responding to concerns at the meeting, a spokesman for the developer said if councillors threw out the plans it could cost taxpayers money if an appeal is lodged against the decision to refuse the proposals.

He added: “We’ve presented this site to many of you before so I am under no illusions that you are all universally supportive. However our site is one of the most sustainable development sites in the whole of the district if not the most sustainable site.

“We have no statutory consultee objections, including from the highway authority, which is where I know many of you have concerns.

“Maldon District Council has an out of date local plan and cannot demonstrate a five year housing land supply. Which has resulted in the council starting to lose substantial appeals on sites which this committee has rejected with increasing regularity.”

A decision on the plans was put on hold for a meeting to be held at a later date.