New homes plan for village 'at breaking point'

A district councillor says a new housing development will "exacerbate" infrastructure pressures on an Essex village.

The planning application has been submitted for a new 249-home housing estate, which is expected to accommodate up to 573 people in Southminster.

The site, close to David Fisher Way, will provide up to 75 affordable homes.

Councillor Adrian Fluker, Maldon District Council ward member for Southminster, said: "Anyone living in the village will know that the medical centre, primary school and road networks are at breaking point."

"If the government wants to fast track developments under their new policies then they should change the current system, do the honest and responsible thing and insist improvements to infrastructure to accommodate new developments is carried out first," he said.

A spokesperson for Bloor Homes has said that the development will "help meet the identified housing need of Maldon District Council."

The planning documents, currently "pending consideration", state that the proposed development, on land accessible via Scotts Hill, will offer "249 dwellings, public open spaces, landscaping, highways, drainage and other infrastructure works."

The site will offer a range of size of properties, from one-bedroom starter homes to four-bedroom family homes.

The plans also include a "significant amount" of multi-functional green spaces including sustainable drainage, landscape for amenity space, formal and informal children's play, and a biodiversity net gain.

The developer has said that the site will "benefit both nature and people".

"Our vision is to create a place which people are proud to call home," it said.

"Biodiversity net gain will be achieved through retaining existing trees and hedgerows, and enhancing these with extensive new planting within green spaces and along green corridors.

"Different types of species will be welcomed and housed in a range of habitats, from grassland to hedgerows to wetland, all native to the Dengie Peninsula and Essex. The built form will also be 'native', and feel of its place, at home within Southminster and Maldon."

The firm is also proposing "considerable" financial contributions towards infrastructure such as schools, health care, provision of commercial uses, highways and "sustainable" transport, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

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