Campaigners fighting a 1,600 home development at a popular beauty spot are preparing for one final push as the estate goes before the planning committee.

Acorn Braintree has been working on proposals for the Brook Green estate, along with a primary school and employment space, at land either side of The Flitch Way, Braintree, since 2015.

Next Tuesday, Braintree Council’s planning committee will have the final say on the plans, with officers recommending the application for refusal.

A spokesman for campaigners No Brook Green, said: “No Brook Green action group is pleased a date has finally been set for the application to be determined. It’s been a long two years coming.

“I hope and expect that the council see how detrimental this development would be to the community. I beg them to listen to the overwhelming local public opinion that this is utterly unwanted and would be a disaster.”

The group collected a petition with more than 1,500 signatures and hundreds of objections have been submitted.

The spokesman continued: “We urge people to attend the meeting at 7.15pm on Tuesday, December 12, to help protect their community, show the council what we think and the developer that we will not put up with predatory and undesirable housing estates in our most precious locations.”

Acorn Braintree wants to fund a new A120 sliproad from Millennium Way to help ease traffic congestion in the area. The developer says Highways England has recently signalled its approval for the plan.

A spokesman for Acorn Braintree said: “We have always understood that these matters have to be carefully worked through. That is why we have invested so much time and money working with the council and authorities to finalise our scheme to deliver the homes the town needs.

“Naturally, having done this, we are confident that the council will reach its decision within the letter and spirit of the planning mechanisms and bearing in mind the needs of the whole community.

“There can be no reason for further delay given the critical house-building needs facing the town, the area and the country. “