WETHERSFIELD is in need of some development if the current services are to stay sustainable, councillors have said.

Four sites were submitted to be recommended in the district's Draft Local Plan, although none of them were put forward for residential development.

The sites proposed were at Silver Street, land north of Blackmore End, Owls Hall Farm in Blackmore End and Courtenham Four Ashes in Blackmore End.

Planning officers said they would not be a natural extension of the area and would have a detrimental effect on listed buildings there.

However Wethersfield Parish Council was happy for development to go ahead, with the provision that consideration is given to off-street parking in the villages for new and existing residents.

The planning officers said as Wethersfield is a smaller village with limited services it would be inappropriate to allocate significant levels of development.

The site proposed at Silver Street had the potential for about 10 homes, and David Smith from Percival and Co. was representing landowner James Thompson at a Local Plan Committee meeting to suggest the site be put forward for residential development.

Despite a couple of committee members suggesting regeneration was needed, the sites were refused.

John O'Reilly-Cicconi, who was on the committee, said: "Villages need gentle increases and the Silver Street site is just 10 houses.

"Yes, Wethersfield has gone downhill but there's a very good shop 250 yards from the proposed site. I would be happy to move inclusion of this site to residential development.

"The access might be difficult but this could be something that would help Wethersfield, something needs to happen there."

David Bebb, also on the committee, also said a certain level of growth was needed.

He said: "I think it's important to see more organic growth in Wethersfield and there is some logic there in terms of shape of the land."

All sites were discussed at a Braintree Local Plan Committee meeting on Monday, May 9.

The future of development in Wethersfield is uncertain, particularly with the MOD site being made available for a potential 4,850 homes.

The Ministry of Defence has not submitted the site as part of Braintree Council’s Local Plan, which will be published in June.

Instead it will be released by the Ministry of Defence to the Homes and Communities Agency by 2020.