DISTRICT councillors have approved plans to build 12 extra new homes at a North Fambridge development by a narrow four to three vote.

The proposals for the site on land west of Fambridge Road, which is part of a larger site where permission for 75 new homes is already in place, had attracted objections from some local residents as the land had been previously earmarked "flexible commercial and community development space".

The 75 homes are already under construction and the new application was put forward after the developers failed to secure appropriate interest in the 1,000 sq metres planned commercial space.

At a meeting yesterday evening (Wednesday, 14 July) of Maldon District Council's North Western Area Planning Committee, Conservative Councillor Jane Fleming argued that the developers had marketed the commercial site as one large site - and that they may have had a more successful response if they had broken it down into smaller units.

Cllr Fleming added: "The space is around half the size of a supermarket and that was never going to get any interest in a small village."

Conservative Councillor Sue White also argued that the three years of marketing had included the period of the Covid-19 pandemic, which may well have limited potential response.

She added: "I feel that the community has not been consulted about what they want."

However, other members disagreed, including Conservative Councillor Mark Durham who said: "Village shops are notoriously unprofitable. Yes, it would be nice, but would it be viable?"

Council planning officers had recommended approval of the plans for extra homes - submitted by home builder David Wilson Homes - and councillors voted four to three in support of giving the application the go-ahead.

The new homes will consist of a mix of four-bed, two-bed and one-bed properties, with 40 per cent as affordable housing.