Plans to build 13 new homes opposite a pub in Althorne have been refused by Maldon district councillors.

Members of the district council's south eastern area planning committee came to the decision last night (Wednesday 13 October) on the basis that the development would be "unsustainable".

The controverisal proposal received 14 letters of objection from residents, who also raised concerns that the homes would cause "significant harm to the appearance of the open countryside".

Mr Burgess, a resident who spoke as an objector at the meeting, said: "This application is unsustainable, with flawed housing and inadequate sewage disposal."

Althorne parish councillor Terry Inkpen echoed these concerns.

He said: "The whole of Althorne is unsustainable anyway, as evidenced by the fact that in Althorne from 2013 to 2017 there have been 22 applications for new dwellings - 17 in total were refused, including 10 after appeals.

"In all except one, unsustainable location was one of the reasons for rejection."

The plans involved the construction of a pair of detached two-storey apartment buildings on the land, each containing two one-bedroom flats and two two-bedroom flats - all of which would be affordable homes.

Five detached four or five-bedroom homes with garages were also proposed as part of the application.

The development was planned for the land just south of Burnham Road, immediately to the east of Althorne and opposite the Three Horseshoes pub.

Councillor Robert Boyce told the meeting: "This isn't the right position for affordable housing."

Councillor Mark Bassenger said: "It just seems ridiculous to put people on low income or young people that are struggling in an unsustainable area that has absolutely nothing - not a shop, not a school, not a hospital - absolutely zero."

Planning officers had recommended approval of the proposal, citing the "volume of affordable housing proposed, in a locality within the district where it has previously been difficult to deliver affordable housing".

But Councillor Bassenger said: "We're looking at a field, and if you put a small housing estate on a field, I wouldn't say that is some small character change to the area - I would say that is a massive character change to the area."

Councillor Bassenger proposed to refuse the officers' recommendation for approval, which was seconded by Councillor Wendy Stamp and voted through by members - with six for the refusal, two against and two abstentions.