Plans for 120 homes in Essex approved by Uttlesford District Council

Councillors have given the green light for 120 new homes to be built in Great Dunmow, subject to a planning agreement being finalised.

Uttlesford District Council’s planning committee resolved to give conditional approval to Bellway’s plans for the homes at Wood Field, at a meeting earlier this year.

The development to the west of Woodside Way will form a natural extension to the wider Great Dunmow Grange neighbourhood. It will comprise a mix of one, two, three and four-bedroom homes, with 40 per cent of them – 48 properties – designated as affordable homes.

The planning agreement for the new homes is expected to involve approximately £1.6m in financial contributions towards infrastructure, including more than £1.2m for education and more than £300,000 for bus services.

Bellway strategic land director for the South region, Ben Stacey, said: “This is positive news as we can now finalise the planning agreement with the local authority for this attractive and sustainable development at Great Dunmow.

“It is important for this area that enough housing is planned to meet the need for homes in the coming years. This development will contribute significantly and positively to that situation and provide high-quality homes for Great Dunmow. The scheme will also provide a substantial number of affordable homes, which will put living within this development within the reach of many more local people.

“We are also taking significant steps to reduce carbon emissions at the development, with photovoltaic solar panels installed for all the homes to generate electricity and help reduce residents’ energy bills.”

The site will be accessed from the new neighbourhood which is under construction to the west. Bellway’s Essex division is currently building new homes as part of this wider scheme at Sapphire Fields at Great Dunmow Grange.

The scheme is planned to deliver at least a 10 per cent biodiversity net gain, which means that when finished it will leave the area with 10 per cent more natural life than there is currently. Plans include the provision of bird and bat boxes and permeable fencing for hedgehogs.

By Mark Adair – Correspondent, Bdaily