A primary school and more than 1,000 homes are being planned for Bocking.

Gallagher Estates Ltd has submitted a planning application for the development at Straits Mill, more than a year after its public consultation.

The site has been allocated for development as part of Braintree Council’s draft local plan and measures 66ha, equivalent to 105 football pitches.

At the middle of the site is Straits Mill Industrial Estate, home to several businesses which will be forced to leave when their leases and tenancy agreements come to an end.

Developers would then work with them to keep them on site for as long as possible.

The application said: “A public consultation event was held at Bocking Village Club, Church Street in Bocking, Braintree on June 14, 2017.

“The consultation was well-attended, with 140 residents and stakeholders attending the event and engaging with the proposals.

“A number of the project team were also in attendance to answer any questions in relation to the proposals

“The project team is fully committed to consulting with the local community across Braintree.”

Plans also include an early years facility, community spaces and a small business centre.

Two entrances to the estate would be created from Broad Road and the A131, which both join a roundabout at the top of the site.

Chairman of the Convent Lane and Broad Road Action Group, Terry Cooper, said: “The site is in the local plan and has been through various consultation processes and got this far.

“I would not recommend objecting to it, but there are bits I don’t like, such as the access from Broad Road.

“I run the speed watch group and there are as many as 40 people breaking the 30mph speed limit, it needs a speed camera.

“The developer has been very good and protected the green spaces, woods and bridle paths.”

The early outline plans focus on the size and nature of a development before a full application is submitted.

A determination deadline of October has been set.

To view the application visit publicaccess.braintree.gov.uk and use reference 18/01318/OUT.