Residents fear that Witham will become a “concrete jungle” if another estate the size of the Maltings Lane development is built across the road.

This week Redrow Homes has submitted plans to build 750 homes, a primary school, an enterprise centre for start-up businesses and space for shops and cafes on arable land next to Lodge Farm, off Hatfield Road.

The developer has reduced the amount of houses from the 850 previously put forward in a screening opinion request to Braintree Council last year.

The enterprise centre, which will be as big as almost three football pitches, will create 250 jobs.

Land has also been identified for a 315-pupil primary school, which could also have capacity for a nursery for 56 children, and the developer hopes to keep existing barn buildings for a cafe and community centre.

Witham Lodge residents are worried about the impact a large new estate could have on the town.

See this week's Witham Times for the full story.