PLANS for a 3,000 home garden community risks damaging Maldon's economy by worsening the already congested road that links it to the rest of Essex – the town's MP has warned.

Initial plans for 3,000 homes on Hammonds Farm are pending, and if approved, the number of homes on the site could rise to 4,500 in the future. The plan is part of Chelmsford City Council's emerging local plan – the city council's long-term local development plan which needs to allocate enough land for its requirement of 19,755 new homes between 2022 and 2041 as one of the strategic housing areas.

But Maldon MP Sir John Whittingdale has questioned the plan for Hammonds Farm – arguing it could severely impact the already congested A414 between the A12 and Maldon. He says this risks making it harder for residents in Maldon to access employment and reduces the areas attractiveness for investment.

In a letter to the planning inspector – which is responsible for deciding whether the plan is sound - He said: "A significant deterioration in the reliability of the A414 corridor for Maldon, and a material increase in congestion in travel between Heybridge and Hatfield Peverel, would together therefore have consequences beyond additional journey time.

"It risks making it harder for residents to access employment, increasing costs and uncertainty for local businesses, and reducing the attractiveness of Maldon, Heybridge and the surrounding area for investment and visitors."

He added that the extra pressure on the A12 east of Boreham interchange and Junction 19 of the A12 will be further exacerbated by extra traffic if the proposed 5,000 houses at Kelvedon proceed.

He added that the transport implications of Hammonds Farm also need to be considered cumulatively with the substantial employment and warehousing development proposed and permitted around the A12 Junction 18 between the A414 and the A12.

He said: "The A414 is a critical route for residents of Maldon and the surrounding villages travelling towards Chelmsford, the A12, employment, education, healthcare and other services. There are limited realistic alternative routes, and disruption or additional congestion on this corridor has direct consequences for communities throughout the area.

"There is also a wider economic dimension. Maldon district is heavily dependent upon its road connections towards Chelmsford and the A12 for access to employment, business markets, supply chains and the wider strategic road network.

"Many residents travel westwards for work, while businesses in Maldon and the surrounding area depend upon reliable access for employees, customers, deliveries and commercial movements. The visitor economy is also important to the district."

Sir John added: "I understand that important elements of the transport strategy for Hammonds Farm remain dependent upon substantial new infrastructure assumptions about significant levels of active and sustainable travel, and further assessment and mitigation.

"For my constituents, the consequences if those assumptions prove overly optimistic would be very real – increased congestion, longer and less reliable journey times, additional costs for businesses and greater pressure on one of the principal transport links between Maldon and Chelmsford."

Cllr Richard Lee, Cabinet Member for Planning and Place-Shaping on Chelmsford City Council has said the council is confident about the plan's soundness amid the examination hearings that began on November 10.

He said: "The public hearings provide a welcome opportunity to build on the constructive conversations that have brought us to this point and for people to engage in the decisions that will shape our district.

"Chelmsford has a long history of producing good quality Local Plans and the latest will help ensure Chelmsford's future development is properly planned and shaped by local needs. We're confident it provides a clear blueprint for delivering the homes, jobs and infrastructure Chelmsford needs, while protecting the places and spaces people value."

A campaign page against Hammonds Farm can be accessed via this link.