A VILLAGE neighbourhood plan is nearing completion after years of delay.

Kelvedon Parish Council has submitted a final draft of the neighbourhood plan to Braintree Council.

Plans were first submitted in 2018 and received 320 responses leading to changes and additions.

Braintree Council is currently supporting eight neighbourhood plans, with a further three already adopted.

If the plans are given the go-ahead they must be used in law to determine planning applications in the parish.

Residents recently formed a campaign group to fight a new proposal to build 600 homes on the outskirts of the village.

Parker Strategic Land (PSL) wants to develop land north of Kelvedon station, off Coggeshall Road, and is in pre-application talks with Braintree Council.

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In response, villagers formed a campaign group called Kelvedon Against Urban Sprawl.

Kelvedon and Feering councillor Paul Thorogood hopes the neighbourhood plan will offer protection against the proposal.

Braintree and Witham Times: Councillor Paul ThorogoodCouncillor Paul Thorogood

He said: “I’m very glad that Kelvedon’s Neighbourhood Plan (KNP) has gone out to public consultation.

“I understand that it was submitted in February but Braintree Council was unable to process it until now due to officer time being taken up with preparations for the examination of Section 2 of Braintree Council’s Local Plan by the Planning Inspectorate next month.

“Kelvedon has more than that amount of new homes already built, currently being built or with planning permission in that time frame.

“PSL’s proposals for 600 homes are outside the village boundary as indicated by the KNP and would impact on local character, on open countryside and the environment.

“I also fear that if the 600 homes were to secure planning permission, they would just be the thin end of the wedge of PSL’s wider ambitions for the 5,000-homes Kings Dene new town north of Kelvedon.

“A tremendous amount of work has gone into the KNP by the neighbourhood plan team and I do hope that villagers take the time to sit down with a cup of tea and log in to Braintree District Council’s planning portal to read it and make comments.”

Braintree Council has published the final draft of the neighbourhood plan and is asking for feedback.

Comments can be submitted to Braintree Council up until 5pm on July 16. To view and comment on the plan visit braintree.gov.uk/ConsultNP