Plans to build more than 300 new homes doubling the size of a village could be submitted by the end of this year.

Developers Bellway Homes, based in Chelmsford, hope to build the houses on land off Forest Road, Rivenhall - part of which is currently used by Rivenhall Oaks Golf Centre.

Braintree Council has confirmed the site, which has come forward for development five years early, does not need to undergo a full environmental survey before plans are considered.

Olivier Spencer, associate at planning agent Andrew Martin, said the plans could go in later this year or early next year once a public consultation had taken place.

Mr Spencer said: "We don’t really have a time scale but I suspect it will be later this year or early next year.

"We are in the early stages of discussions with officers at the council as to what form the application will take and what it will include."

Braintree Council have classed the plan as an urban extension of North Witham, rather than an expansion of the village.

Rivenhall parish councillor Jack Prime, 66, is fearful the developers will increase the number of homes to built on the land.

"It was a devil we knew about and we are monitoring what else the land owner is planning.

"We did expect the planning application would go in early but there are still genuine concerns for the infrastructure and roads.

"The original plan was for 300 homes, not to be built before 2021 but it’s five years early and already at 328 homes.

"These plans constitute Witham expanding into Rivenhall, which is why a boundary change has been suggested by the Council.

"We expect some of the section 106 money to go to Rivenhall because of this, rather than just to Witham parish."