The eighth proposal since 1994 to build a home on the land adjacent to 7 Granger Avenue, in Maldon, has been refused.

The application had received two letters of objection from neighbouring residents on Orchard Road.

One resident said: "The build, if approved, would further exacerbate the problem of congestion in Granger Avenue and the surrounding suburb from vehicles, and would increase the already significant risk to pedestrians from traffic."

The resident said it would "necessitate the destruction of wildlife habitat, both within the site itself and paving over much of what is currently a grass verge".

Maldon District Council rejected the proposal this week on the basis that it would be "incongruous" and "detrimental" to the character and appearance of its surroundings.

District council planning officers also said that the proposed site layout would result in "a loss of privacy" to the residents of the neighbouring 76 Orchard Road.

The application involved the erection of a two-storey three-bedroom house on the land adjacent to 7 Granger Avenue, which is currently scrubland.

The previous seven applications for the site have all been refused by the district council.

The most recent refusal, regarding an application for a pair of semi-detached dwellings on the plot, took place in April this year.

Maldon Town Council had previously recommended refusal of the application, stating that it would result in "overdevelopment of the site".