Braintree councillors have given permission for a new development in the historic heart of Great Bardfield despite passionate local opposition to the plan.

At Tuesday's Braintree area planning committee meeting - attended by protesting villagers -members gave their approval to a plan to build seven cottage-style homes on the former Bardfield Garage site in the High Street.

The plan, by developer C and N Partnership, includes the conversion of the existing former showroom into another house.

During public question time villager, Russell Sherman, said: "The very heart of the village will be altered if this is allowed and the whole village is united against this proposal."

Chairman of Great Bardfield Parish Council, Janet Dyson, told members that a recent parish assembly had shown unanimous opposition to the development.

She said: "Great Bardfield is not a NIMBY village, it never has been.

''As a parish council we look to the kind of community we want to be and accept planned development for the future."

She said new housing had already increased Great Bardfield's population by 10 per cent in recent years.

"We believe that this development would have a detrimental effect on Great Bardfield and its people, many of whom are here tonight."

Her fears were shared by Great Bardfield district councillor, Ron Hawkins. He said: "I have never known such total opposition to anything in the village."

Supporting the application, Cllr Barbara Buchan said: "People have to live somewhere.

''Anything has got to be better than the present state of this brownfield site," she added.

The application was narrowly passed by six votes to five.

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