Plans to build 28 homes on a farm opposite Great Totham Primary School have been unveiled.

Mr Marven hopes to build the new homes on land he owns at Manor Farm on Walden House Road, opposite the school, alongside a new car park for visitors to the school.

The 35-acre farm, which is cropped for hay for livestock feed, lies outside the defined settlement boundary for Great Totham.

But in a statement for the application, agent Peter Le Grys said: "It is located just a short walk from all of the village facilities, including the village store and post office, public house, bus stops, car repair garage and directly opposite is the primary school.

"There can be no doubt that the site is within a sustainable location, given that it is also much closer to the village centre than many other parts of the defined settlement."

The proposal is an outline application to find out, at an early stage, whether it is likely to be approved by Maldon District Council.

This means few details about the proposed homes have been submitted, but Mr Le Grys said the scheme will include 11 homes for social housing purposes, which will be 2-bed properties available to rent at an "affordable" price.

Out of the remaining 17 homes, five will have 2 bedrooms each, four will have three bedrooms and eight will have four bedrooms.

Mr Le Grys said: "The development will be designed with housing across the Walden House Road frontage, but set behind the screen hedgerow, with access from a private drive off a new spine road."

He said a car park for the school is included in the plans as it does not currently have one and "does not allow parents to enter the school site to drop off or collect children except under special circumstances".

He said: "The on-street parking problems that occur each morning and afternoon are notorious, with many local residents having to avoid the area during school opening and closing times."

The proposed car park would have 29 parking spaces and be provided by Mr Marven at no cost to the school.

Mr Le Grys continued: "In far too many residential schemes it can be observed that, while financial contributions can be secured, this rarely achieves any tangible benefits for the local community.

"In this instance, the applicant is prepared to construct and provide a 29 space car park for local residents and parents.

"This will be a very real achievement not only in resolving a local difficulty but actually achieving something that will be used by the community on a daily basis."

Maldon District Council will make the final decision.