Blueprints to build 250 homes in a village have been branded “monotonous” and “characterless” by campaigners.

Members of the Kelvedon and Feering Heritage Society have spoken of their disappointment at Cala Homes’ latest vision for its new estate off Station Road in Kelvedon.

The developer already has planning permission forto construct 250 homes on the site, but has now submitted a new application in a bid to speed up the process of agreeing the detailed plans with Braintree Council. planning officers.

Cala hopes the latest blueprints will be formally approved but the street layout and design has faced criticism from the heritage society members, which as a group has objections to the new plans.

The objection letter, which is one of more than 20 already sent to Braintree Council, says: “Whilst not opposing the principle of housing development on this site, we are disappointed in the quality of the detailed design.

“The development is arranged around a bland road layout which does not create places or incidents of identity.

“The arrangement of houses consists largely of detached houses in straight rows separated by narrow gaps, rather than coherent linked frontages. All in all, the layout is monotonous and characterless.

It adds: “We feel that Kelvedon’s principle local plan housing allocation does not deserve such a poor scheme and it should be refused.”

In its planning statement submitted alongside the new application, Cala suggested it had been forced to put forward new proposals due to the council’s alleged “failure” to agree reserved matters and conditions of the development.

However, a spokesman for the developer would not been drawn on the apparent tensions between the two parties.

A spokesman for the developer said: “We are committed to working together with the council to secure a positive outcome. This is a major application that will deliver 250 new homes, 100 affordable properties, significant highway improvement works and financial contributions that will positively benefit local projects in Kelvedon and Braintree.

“We have submitted a suite of planning applications with a view to commencing construction as soon as possible, and are engaging with officers at the council in order to seek a positive planning outcome at the earliest opportunity.”

'Plans have varied since they were first agreed'

COUNCIL bosses insist they will work with Cala Homes to ensure its application is dealt with as quickly as possible.

Braintree Council says the finer details of the developer’s plans for Station Road have yet to be agreed because Cala has altered its own vision to one previously agreed.

A spokesman said: “We granted an outline planning permission on this site subject to the development complying with a number of agreed parameters, including the amount and location of open space, and the maximum heights of buildings.

“Since outline planning permission has been granted, Cala has purchased the site and an application has been made which seeks to vary some of those agreed parameters.

“We had concerns with the information provided to support the proposed changes but officers continue to work with Cala to progress the matter as quickly as possible.”