THE scrapping of plans that would have seen 420 homes built in North Fambridge and surrounding villages has been met with relief by residents.

Maldon District Council’s Local Development Plan (LDP) was approved by Secretary of State for communities and local government Sajid Javid after planning inspector Simon Berkeley found the plan sound.

The council has planned for a minimum of 4,410 homes at a rate of about 300 new homes a year.

Proposed development sites include 1,235 houses in the North Heybridge Garden Suburb and 450 in Burnham.

Originally 420 had been planned in North Fambridge and the surrounding area, however these were removed from the plans shortly before approval.

The final report said: “Delete the second paragraph from the policy as follows: ‘A rural allocation DPD will be produced to allocate land for a minimum 420 dwellings in and around the District’s villages, comprising 75 dwellings in North Fambridge and 345 other villages.’”

The removal of the proposed new developments in North Fambridge from the LDP was met with relief by residents in the village.

A spokesman for North Fambridge Parish Council said: “The Parish Council has always participated in responding to the proposed Maldon District Local Development Plan in writing and at both hearings before the Inspectors, making it clear that any additional allocation of development to the village was not acceptable.

“It was agreed that in the light of the infrastructure problems with sewage and surface water, further development was not appropriate nor sustainable. The proposed allocation of 75 houses was therefore removed.”