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Search the Public Notice PortalPLANS to build 110 homes in a village have been branded “shocking” after they were approved through an appeal.
The development on land west of Spratts Farm, Queenborough Road, Southminster, was green-lit after a government planning inspector overturned Maldon District Council's refusal.
Proposed by Gladman Developments and landowners, the scheme includes 33 affordable homes, public open space, landscaping, sustainable drainage features and a new access road.
Councillor Adrian Fluker, who represents Southminster on Maldon District Council, described the approval as “absolutely shocking”.
He told the Standard: “I attended the appeal hearing and gave evidence on behalf of the 350 plus residents who had previously objected to the application.
"Bearing in mind two small vehicles cannot pass each other without mounting the pavement within 20 metres of the site entrance, I questioned the integrity of the statutory response from Essex Highways which stated they had ‘no objections’."
Mr Fluker says Essex Highways declined his offer of an accompanied site visit to better understand the concerns of residents.
He added: "I made it absolutely clear at the hearing that if an accident occurred involving a pedestrian and someone was left with serious injuries, those supporting the application would be responsible.
"In a worst-case scenario, this could amount to culpable homicide."
In their decision, the planning inspector concluded that Maldon District Council cannot demonstrate a five-year housing land supply and said the development would help address a significant need for both market and affordable homes.
The inspector acknowledged the scheme would result in the loss of part of an agricultural field and affect the setting of the Grade II listed Spratt's Farmhouse but judged these harms to be limited and outweighed by the benefits of the development.
Concerns about traffic noise from the proposed access road were also raised by neighbours, but the inspector ruled that noise could be managed through planning conditions and would not justify refusing permission.
Essex Highways says safety is "always its highest priority" when assessing planning applications, and no issues were identified.
A spokesperson said: "This application was subject to a full assessment in terms of the highways and transport impacts.
"This included site visits with highway engineers scrutinising the design of the proposals.
"An independent Stage 1 Road Safety Audit was also carried out by qualified Safety Auditors."
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