CONTROVERSIAL plans to build 45 new homes in a village on land opposite another new 350 home development have been given the green light.

Braintree Council has rubber stamped L A Jordan's plans for The Garden Field, south of Western Road, Silver End.

The new estate will be made up of up to 45 homes, along with off-street parking spaces, public open space with 40 per cent of the homes set to be affordable.

More than ten objections were submitted to the proposals, including from ward councillor James Abbott (Green, Silver End and Cressing).

In his response, Mr Abbott raised concerns about the proposed access road for the new estate due to its proximity to Redrow Homes' approved 350 home development, which is located opposite The Garden Field.

He said: "The confirmed access for the much larger development, which has been approved, is almost directly opposite the proposed access for the smaller development, which stands to be determined."

Mr Abbott said he was worried the proposed had not been accurately assessed because some of the documents were out of date and called for Essex Highways to re-examine the access plans.

"On the file for the Garden Field application, a revised Illustrative Master Plan shows the access for the Redrow site in the wrong location, well away from the now consented location," he said.

However County Hall raised no objections, claiming the applications "did not prejudice each other".

A response states: "From a highway point of view, both sites could be implemented, subject to our recommendation requirements, without being detrimental to highway capacity and safety."

Braintree Council approved the plans subject to the developer making financial contributions for sports facilities, play areas and allotments.

Details of the scale, layout, appearance and landscaping of the site will be approved at a later date by the submission of a further application.