Witham: 600 homes site approved (From Braintree and Witham Times)

Witham: 600 homes site approved

3:53pm Thursday 2nd July 2009

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A site in Witham has been given the green light for 600 new homes.

Land off Hatfield Road, Witham, could see 600 homes built on it over the next 16 years.

At a meeting of Braintree Council on June 22 councillors agreed the land in south west Witham, opposite the BP petrol garage, was ideal for possible development in the future.

Bob Evans (Labour, Witham North) said there was cross-party support at a Witham Local Committee meeting in May to downgrade the proposal for the land to 300 homes.

He said: "It wasn't a rejection saying we didnt want anything built but the local committee, with a lot of local knowledge, felt 600 homes was far too many."

Braintree Council is required by the Government to provide land for 4,599 homes in the Braintree district between now and 2025.

Other members of the council supported Dr Evans and said attacked the current system which places demands on the council to find suitable land to ensure new homes are built.

"We have to play the game which is currently being dictated by Government, which means we have to find growth areas," said Graham Butland, leader of the council.

"People signalling there should be a reduction to 300 homes have not come up with alternative proposals as to where the remaining allocation of homes could go."

The council approved the growth location as suitable for 600 homes and possibly employment development depending on highway access.

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