PLANNING applications that would have seen almost 500 homes built in the district have been rejected by councillors.

Braintree Council planning committee members voted unanimously to quash plans for 350 homes on land off Western Road, Silver End, and another 145 in land north west of Gleneagles Way, in Hatfield Peverel.

Developers for the Silver End site, Gladman Developments, lodged an appeal on March 21 on the grounds of non-determination. This meant members were asked to make a decision setting out the position they would have taken had they been able to determine the application on time.

The bid, which included 140 affordable homes, received 171 objection comments from residents, including Silver End Parish Council.

Parish councillor Philip Hughes told last week’s meeting: “The parish council has consistently maintained that it would prefer to see the village envelope in its existing position and not expanded.

“This is not because we are opposed to development but we would prefer to see development on existing brownfield sites allocated for development. This is not a sustainable development.”

Ward councillor James Abbott said: “The heart of the village is a very large conservation area. This development would have a direct impact on both that con- servation area and a listed building which is in very close proximity. It would have a significant impact on anyone that lives in the village.”

A further 101 people opposed the outline bid (pictured) by developer David Wilson Homes for 145 homes, including 58 affordable properties, on farmland in Hatfield Peverel.

Planning officer Neil Jones said: “I don’t think this is the spot for development in Hatfield Peverel when you consider other sites.”

The main access points would be from the ends of Birkdale Rise and Ferndown via field gates. Both roads are short cul-de-sacs and are served from Gleneagles Way – also a cul-de-sac.

Speaking at the meeting, councillor and former police officer Lynette Bowers-Flint said: “If ever there was a site where development would not be suitable this is one of them.

“There have been accidents there and I have attended them in uniform. It is one of the most dangerous pieces of road that I can recall in our district.

“It’s nigh on impossible to come off that A12, bear in mind that people could be travelling for some distance at 70mph, to get to 30mph by the time you come off the A12 and get to that speed limit.

“In fact if you stood there with a speed camera you would make an absolute fortune because I would say that 99 out of 100 cars that are coming through there are actually breaking the speed limit purely and simply because of the shortness of the road.”

The NHS also said Sidney House Surgery in Hatfield Peverel did not have capacity to grow and deal with more patients from the development