Plans for a new development of up to 320 homes, a new relief road and an 'employment development' at Wycke Hill, Maldon, have been approved by the District Council.

Submitted by Nick Mann on behalf of Dartmouth Park Estates Limited, a development company, the plans also include pedestrian and cycle link routes, open spaces, and homes for the elderly.

Plans for the development also include a 'small-scale employment development' of up to 2,000 square metres (21,528 square feet).

Objecting on behalf of the Save Maldon Action Group, Kath Vale said: "The housing mix does not appear to accurately reflect the housing that is needed in the district and is too heavily weighted in favour of three- and four-bedroomed houses."

The group also raised concerns over the provision of affordable housing, which currently makes up 30 per cent of the development.

However, the Supplementary Planning Statement from November 2016 says: "In the event that 320 dwellings could not be delivered, the proportion of affordable housing which could be supported would reduce".

Therefore, the number of affordable homes at the development could be less than 96, out of more than 300.

Ms Vale continued: "Maldon District Council should put much stronger controls in place to encourage the developers to stick to their promises and reward them for providing the correct ratios and build at the rate required to meet the Five-Year Land Supply."

AERIAL MASTERPLAN: Drag the white slider left & right to see how the land looks now compared to the plans outlined in 2016.

In 2017, Maldon Town Council recommend the refusal of planning permission as an Outline Application, saying it wished to consider the proposal as a Full Application.

Meanwhile, social media users have recently criticised the Council for refusing planning permission for a granny annex due to concerns over adequate parking provision.

It said on-street parking could result in the "detriment of pedestrian and highway safety, and the free flow of traffic within the area".

A spokesperson for Maldon District Council has been approached for comment.

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