Plans detailing landscaping and infrastructure for the largest of the three sites forming Westcombe Park, primarily its northeastern part, have been given the go-ahead by councillors.

A special meeting of the district planning committee at Maldon District Council was called last night (Thursday, 3 March) to consider details of landscaping, roads, pedestrian and cycle links to the north and northeast of Heybridge Wood and a smaller area southwest of Heybridge Wood.

The site forms part of the 1,138-home development from Countryside Properties which was approved on appeal in 2019, with subsequent reserved matters applications - such as the one considered last night - being put to councillors to agree on its finer details.

Anna Tastsoglou, planning officer at the district council, told members: "This second phase of the strategic landscaping sets out a well-designed framework of green spaces and linkages that will ensure that the development as a whole delivers the high-quality, vibrant and distinctive neighbourhoods that the council has envisaged for the garden suburbs.

"It is also considered that the proposal would be acceptable in terms of impact on nearby heritage assets and the quality of life of existing and future occupiers of the sites."

Agent Kevin Coleman said the key features of the application include the landscape entrance into the site from Broad Street Green, the remainder of landscaping surrounding the relief road - including hedgerow planting along its north side and a landscape bund on its south side - and a children's play space.

He said it also covers the tree-lined spine road that extends into the site from Broad Street Green, pedestrian and cycle links and a buffer around Heybridge Wood to "protect the woodland".

Councillor Mark Durham raised no concerns about the proposal itself, but expressed fears over the applications coming in "piecemeal" while the district council is unable to demonstrate a five-year land supply.

This means there is not enough housing land allocated or with planning permission to fulfil five years' worth of needs - failure to do so can remove the authority's ability to prevent developments on land it disagrees with.

Councillor Durham said: "It really is in the interests of this authority that the buildout of this site, and others, happens as soon as possible."

He continued: "The provision of community facilities that are part of this application are based on the completion and occupation of the homes, and therefore it honestly can't come soon enough.

"I would much rather see this get moving rather than having these individual reserved matter applications come to us once every couple of months."

Ms Tastsoglou replied: "The only thing I can say is an application for the reserved matters residential element has been submitted and is currently under consideration."

Some councillors also raised their "disappointment" over the lack of bridleways in the proposal.

Councillor Kevin Lagan told officers: "You know how passionate members are about these types of things and we should think about things that are important for members that represent communities and bring those forward."

But Matt Leigh, chief planning officer, said: "There is no requirement for part of this app to require a bridleway, and any objection to that I think would be very difficult to sustain."

Councillor Adrian Fluker proposed to accept the application, which was seconded by Councillor Jane Fleming and agreed by members.

A similar application that was made for the western part of the site was approved in September last year.

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