CONTROVERSIAL plans for a set of six flats and a bungalow at a garage site behind a primary school have now been approved.

The site, off of Lancaster Way in Braintree, has been used as unofficial staff parking for John Bunyan Primary School and also provides access to Seesaw Nursery.

The area was sold by Greenfield Community Housing earlier this year to a private developer who submitted original plans for eight flats at the site.

Several objections to the application were raised by residents who live nearby who were concerned about the effect the development would have on their quality of life - and plans were amended to include six flats and a bungalow closest to the boundary with the existing houses.

The garages will now be demolished to make room for the erection of the seven apartments and allocated parking.

John Collins, a local resident who regularly takes a friends child to Seesaw Nursery, said: “It shows a total disregard for staff and parents at the school and nursery.

“The parking situation has got a lot worse since they closed off the garages.”

Victoria Gibson, 27 Lancaster Way, said: “I feel annoyed the application has been approved.

“It might affect the price of our house if there is going to be cars from the school blocking the drive all the time.

“A lot of people put in objections but it has still been approved – I feel they have not addressed the issues.”

Ian Spalding, 1 Bailey Bridge Road, said: ““I did not get any consultation from the council at all.

"Everybody along here had different objections to the plans.

“It could have an effect on the area with the parking - I am not planning to move but it will be my kid’s inheritance that it is biting into.

“If they had low build bungalows as they have in other places, it would not be a problem."

Anthony Everard chairman of the Braintree Urban District Children’s Centre Advisory Board and a governor at John Bunyan Primary School had previously requested that the council buy the land to provide parking for the school, which is currently being expanded.

Mr Everard said: “This will still be a very busy hub of exchange and I am still worried about safeguarding - it could have given more car parking.”