More than 700 homes and new school planned for Maldon village
New parks would also be built in Althorne under the proposals
Last updated 11th Oct 2022
More than 700 houses, a primary school, shops and new parks could be coming to a rural Essex village, according to plans submitted to the local council.
Applicants DMJ Althorne Ltd have applied to Maldon District Council for permission to build the 750-home scheme in the village of Althorne.
Additionally, a new primary school, early years centre, a district park and 1,000 square metres of commercial floorspace, would be built in the land south of Fambridge Road and Burnham Road if the application is approved.
The development would be constructed over nine years and cost £96.5million, it continues. 175 full-time equivalent jobs are expected to be created as a result.
However, the scheme would be outside development boundaries and cause “less than substantial harm” to a number of listed buildings, such as the grade II listed Parish Church of St Andrew.
A section read: “The adverse impacts of the scheme (localised landscape and visual impacts, and harm to designated and non-designated heritage assets) have been assessed and taken into account.
“It is concluded that these do not significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits of the scheme, which are extensive and weighty.”
According to the statement, 40 per cent of the new houses would be affordable homes.
It continues to say Maldon’s five year housing land supply has progressively fallen since November 2020, and that there is a current shortfall of 505 homes in the district.
According to the application, a 16 hectare district park, 2.4 hectare local park and a series of allotments would be built in addition to the houses and education facilities.
A new pedestrian footbridge over the railway line, enhancements to Althorne Station and road improvements are also being proposed, as are public art installations.
The area around the war memorial would be pedestrianised and re-landscaped, according to the application.
DMJ Althorne Ltd is applying for outline planning permission, meaning the council will have to decide if the plans are acceptable in principle. A separate application for reserved matters such as layout would then have to be submitted.