DETAILS of the type of housing associated with Braintree’s most heavily opposed planning application have been given the go-ahead.

Redrow, which bought the site between Bocking and High Garrett from developers Gladman in 2021, said they “would be talking on a sensitive project” but have argued they will be doing the site “justice”.

Gladman won an appeal in 2017 against Braintree Council’s failure to rule on its application within the statutory 13-week period.

The site, off Church Street, had been targeted with two proposals - one for 265 homes and the other for 300.

The appeal inspector allowed the 265-home application. She said the council could not demonstrate a five-year housing land supply.

Although she recognised the development would change the site’s open character and almost fill the gap between Bocking and High Garrett, she felt a new orchard in the proposal would limit its visual impact.

Planning member David Mann (Lab, Bocking North) called the decision “extraordinary” given the level of opposition to the plans.

The council received a record 700 objections.

Redrow, which acquired the site in 2021, has now had plans for reserved matters for 253 homes agreed by Braintree Council's planning committee.

Mr Mann said: “If I take you back to the outline stage, I would remind members this attracted 700 individual objections – a record for Braintree. It was 700 against none in favour.

“Above all they want to see a firm policy of preventing coalescing of High Garrett and Bocking adhered to. We had a green gap as part of local suite of policies.

“Unfortunately the inspector noticed we did not have a five-year land supply and declared policies out of date.

"And to paraphrase her she appeared to say that filling the gap between the two settlements was acceptable as long as a community orchard was planted along the front so passers-by wouldn’t notice this was happening.

"Quite an extraordinary decision by this inspector.”

Mr Mann said there were too many four bedroom homes – 116 in total.

There are just 12 one-bedroom, 69 two-bedroom and 59 three-bedroom properties planned.

Chris Gatland, planning director for Redrow Eastern, said: “My colleagues and I knew when we bought this site from the previous applicant that we would be taking on a very sensitive project. And we did so in the belief that we have the knowledge, understanding and commitment to do this site justice."