The final major phase of housing has been agreed for the former Notley Hospital site.

Braintree area committee has approved 52 more houses on a 2.94 hectare piece of land.

Nearly 300 homes have already been granted permission on the land in Black Notley since a master layout plan was approved in July 1998 allowing not more than 350 houses.

The majority of the homes being built by Redrow Homes (South East) Ltd will be three and five bedroom houses, but some will have four and six bedrooms.

Approval is subject to investigations into the ownership of an adjoining footpath, although it is not expected to affect the development.

In a separate application, members also agreed the conversion of the hospital's former chapel into two two-bed homes.

The master plan for the site stipulated a number of buildings had to be retained, including the chapel, day nursery and administration point, which acted as important focal points.

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