A PENSIONER faces losing his beautiful garden views if plans to build 70 new homes get the go-ahead.

John Carter, 67, retired five years ago due to an ongoing battle with depression and heart problems.

Two months ago he had a £1,000 summer house built in his rear garden which offers him the perfect place to enjoy the picturesque views on offer along Chapel Hill, Halstead.

But those views could soon be taken away from him after property developers Go Home submitted plans to Braintree Council to build 70 new houses on land overlooked by Mr Carter’s property.

Mr Carter said: “I don’t get out much due to my dodgy heart.

“The summer house is a place where I can get away from everything and relax.

“The views are beautiful. In the summer I can see deer jumping around and there is loads of wildlife out there.

“The point of the summer house is to sit out and enjoy the views but I don’t fancy looking at loads of houses.

“To be honest, I feel gutted and I would have thought twice about the summer house if I had known. I spent my savings on it.“

Mr Carter, who has lived in his home with wife, Mary, for more than 30 years, also raised concerns about the impact the development would have on the town.

He added: “Halstead can’t cope with all these houses.

“You can’t get a doctor’s appointment anymore, there’s not enough schools.

“I’ll have lots more traffic going past my front door and we will be saying goodbye to all this fresh air.”

The proposals put forward by Go Home would see the new homes built on land next to Crowbridge Farm.

The scheme says 21 of the houses would be set aside for social housing tenants and a public open space contribution would also be provided by the developer.

Braintree Council is due to vote on the application before the end of the year.