A MAJOR development in Burnham-on-Crouch has been given the go-ahead by Maldon District Council.

The plans for the site on land north-west of 2, Maldon Road, include 103 retirement bungalows, a 70-bedroom care home, 55-bed assisted living apartments, community centre, medical centre, sports facilities and allotments. The sports facilities will include an open air swimming pool and tennis courts – and there will be eight key workers' flats, office and maintenance buildings, too.

Fifty of the independent living apartments would be designated affordable housing.

The council's district planning committee, sitting last night (Thursday, 8 October), was voting only on approval of matters including appearance and landscaping, as the proposals had been given outline planning permission previously. The main issue left for agreement was the change in appearance of the building, especially the roof lines – these had been flat, but have now been given a pitched roof design.

Some councillors expressed dismay that the plans had been agreed in outline before they were elected – and so the chance for them to refuse permission was effectively reduced due to case law.

Independent Councillor Wendy Stamp said: "The bulk and scale of this is awful. The bungalow is great, but the care home is huge.

"I get a postbag full of complaints about this application."

And Independent Councillor Kevin Lagan said: "We can't turn the clock back and neither would we. We have to deal with what's in front of us. The bungalows are exceptional, but the larger buildings look like a shopping centre in Colchester."

However, a tree consultant used by the council to assess the impact of the development found in a report that: "The scheme presents an excellent opportunity to have new and diverse planting incorporated into the surrounding landscape, to provide trees that have space to develop into notable landscape features of the future."

Councillors did agree an extra condition to ensure enhanced provision of solar panels at the development after this was proposed by Independent Councillor Mark Heard.

The development plans were approved with a recorded vote of 14 for, six against and two abstentions.