RESIDENTS have formed a campaign group to fight new proposals to build 600 homes on the outskirts of their village.

Parker Strategic Land (PSL) wants to develop land north of Kelvedon station, off Coggeshall Road, and is in pre-application talks with Braintree Council.

PSL wants to see up to 5,000 new homes built at Kelvedon to form a new town called Kings Dene and is seeking permission for 600 new homes as part of the first phase.

In response, a group of villagers have formed a new campaign group called Kelvedon Against Urban Sprawl (Kaus).

Kaus spokesman Paul Thorogood, a Green party district councillor who represents Kelvedon and Feering, said the villages “can’t take anymore new housing”.

Mr Thorogood said: “Two-hundred and forty new homes are already being built on land previously owned by PSL and being developed by Cala Homes.

“PSL have planning permission for another 35 homes on the Watering Farm site near the Cala Homes development.

“Feering is set to double in size by 2033.

“Kelvedon and Feering can’t take anymore new housing. They’ve more than done their bit. Enough is enough.

“Greenfield sites like this shouldn’t even be considered for housing when brownfield sites such as the derelict former Crittall factory site up the road at Silver End remains undeveloped.

“We’re losing green space all around us.

“We don’t want to end up as a suburb of Witham. We want to maintain the identity of our villages.

“These 600 homes would mean the loss of countryside, the loss of natural wild habitat, more traffic and more air pollution.”

He added: “I do accept villages have to grow. Grown-up children need affordable starter homes, families expand, and some older people like to downsize, but I believe the national baseline is to grow by two per cent per year.

“The unique character of both Kelvedon and Feering will be lost for ever.

“It must not be allowed to happen.”