Plans for 85 Elmstead Market homes refused after objections

Welbeck Strategic Land IV put forward plans for 85 homes on land north of Meadow Close and west of Holly Way, in Elmstead Market.

The development was planned to include two-storey homes with one to four bedrooms.

But Tendring Council refused the plans on October 15 because documents were missing and the site lay outside the settlement boundary.

Plans - where the homes would have been built (Image: Google)

The council says the plans lacked 30 per cent affordable housing, public open space, bus services, bus-stop improvements and other required measures.

Residents said the extra homes could overwhelm local infrastructure, worsen traffic safety on Holly Way and damage the village’s rural character.

The plans received 130 objections and one supporting comment.

Patricia Jones said: "This land was designated to be part of the buffer zone and should not be built upon.

"The infrastructure, roads, schools, doctors and so on cannot cope with the additional traffic or footfall."

Villager Leslie Harbottle said he was concerned about the amount of traffic in Holly Way - especially during school pick-up times.

He said: "It's hard for cars to get through during school times already.

"I am worried for the children crossing the road as it is, let alone when cars from 85 new homes will also be coming through.

"We have a small doctors already at full capacity, and for most of my appointments I have to travel to Abbey Fields - which is a nuisance as it is."

Residents also raised concerns about wildlife and called for Elmstead Market’s village status and buffer zone to be protected.

Helen Byrne said: "This development would be in the buffer zone which was agreed to protect Elmstead Market from the garden village.

"Use of Holly Way for construction traffic would be unsafe and inappropriate due to the high level of traffic already using the road for access to and from the primary school."

Search for application 26/00193/OUT on Tendring Council’s planning portal for more information.

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