A DEVELOPER has scaled down plans for more than 200 homes on the edge of Kirby-Le-Soken in the wake of council and public opposition.

The Burghes Estate had sought to build 250 homes at Turpins Farm off Elm Tree Avenue, but is now proposing 210 homes, many sited along tree-lined boulevards.

This follows Tendring Council’s Planning Committee in July deferring a decision for the developer come up with a scheme featuring fewer homes.

Planning officers had recommended approval for the homes but residents and councillors feared impacts on traffic, schools and health provision and the density of the proposed development.

However, various agencies, including the NHS and Essex County Council Highways and Essex County Council Schools, offered no objections, believing Section 106 contributions paid by the developer to various agencies would help offset any impact caused by the homes and their residents.

After meetings between planning agents and district planning staff last month, amended plans have now been submitted.

Now, the project would have a gross density of 21 homes per hectare, which it says is considered “low density in planning terms.” This would also be lower than the recently-approved Halstead Road scheme nearby, which will have a density of 25 homes per hectare.

The amended application said the development would contain “villas and larger detached homes building on the traditional character of Frinton.”

There would also be “larger individual family homes of traditional vernacular style along the norther edge of the site, to establish Turpins Farm as a stunning northern gateway to Frinton.”

Access would now only be from Elm Tree Avenue, with an earlier planned access from Walton Road reduced to emergency access only.

The scheme also includes a school parking and drop off point to serve Hamford Primary Academy and a play area.

“Whilst we maintain the view that a high quality development can be achieved at the development quantum originally proposed (with which your officer concurred) we have however responded to the committee’s debated outcomes,” the application added.