A HISTORY and conservation group will object to plans for 180 homes which could “overload” two villages.

Developers have taken the first step towards building the scheme in Feering by applying to Braintree Council forascreening opinion.

Alan Stones, of the Kelvedon and Feering Heritage Society, said: “This is quite a big one. It came up in Braintree Council’s call for sites in 2014.

“Our view was that we didn’t think it was right that there should be a massive housing development around Kelvedon and Feering because the infrastructure is not up to it.

“Kelvedon High Street would be overwhelmed. The A12 would suffer with additional congestion.

“We will certainly be objecting.”

The 5.4-hectare site, between London Road and Inworth Road, is owned by the Crown Estate, while the screening request has been made by project management company Amec Foster Wheeler.

A screening opinion gives developers an idea of what they will need to include in a full planning application.