PLANS to build 30 new homes on the site of a former gravel pit in Great Totham are on the agenda for Maldon District Council's (MDC) North West Area Planning Committee tomorrow (Wednesday, 16 June).

The proposed development of "30 dwellings with associated access and landscaping" is for land opposite 34, Hall Road.

The reasons given for call in to committee are that it is a major application and is a departure from the Local Development Plan (LDP).

The applicant is Lynton Homes Limited and MDC planning officers have recommended approval of the scheme with conditions and a 'Section 106' legal agreement which would oblige the developer to provide:

• Residential travel plan and pack
• Education contributions
• Highways improvement works
• Affordable housing provision
• Public open space.

Great Totham Parish Council has recommended refusal of the plans and there have been 21 letters of objection.

The application follows the expiry of existing planning permission on the site for a development only slightly different to the one proposed now. The previous application was initially refused by MDC in October 2016, due to the impact of the proposal on the character and appearance of the area.

However, this decision was subsequently appealed and overturned by the planning inspector in March, 2017.

The proposed new homes at the site include a mix with a full range from one-bedroomed flats to four-bedroomed detached houses. Twelve (40 per cent) of the homes would be designated affordable housing and the rest would be for the open market.

The site is approximately 1.84 hectares in size and currently undeveloped, laid to grass with vegetation covering parts of the site and around the boundaries. The site was formerly used as a gravel pit which has since been back filled.