PLANS for 55 new homes on open green space in Purleigh are set to be agreed by Maldon Council

Developer Rosconn Group is planning new homes on land adjacent to Westerings, next to Purleigh Community Primary School. The site consists of an open, undeveloped field of mostly grassland.

Maldon District Council's north-western area planning committee is due to consider the plans on Wednesday, 8 October but the decision may already be outside its jurisdiction as the developer has already made an appeal to the planning inspectorate on the grounds of non-determination, as the time taken to decide the application has exceeded the statutory 13-week period for a decision on a major application.

Maldon Council's planning officer's report states: "Taking into account the facilities and services available in the village, together with access to public transport, the site is in a sustainable location.

"This view is supported by inspectors in planning appeal decisions.

"The development would result in economic benefits associated with temporary jobs during the construction of the development and through occupants using the existing services and facilities.

"There are social benefits as a result of the proposed development. The proposal would provide 55 new homes, of which 40 per cent, 22 homes, would be affordable, thus it would make a significant contribution to the five-year house and land supply and help to address the shortfall in affordable housing. 

"Notwithstanding the current position regarding the council's five-year house and land supply, as noted earlier in this report, the site is in a sustainable location and the development would positively support the existing services and facilities in the village and contribute positively to the housing provision, and affordable housing provision, for the district.

"These factors weigh heavily in support of the proposal in the planning balance. This is discussed further in the conclusion of this report."