MORE than 4500 homes could be built near Stebbing if plans for an eco-village get given the go-ahead. Developers, Galliard Homes Limited, are to enter the spotlight next week when they will give a series of presentations in a bid to ease Uttlesford Distri

MORE than 4500 homes could be built near Stebbing if plans for an eco-village get given the go-ahead.

Developers, Galliard Homes Limited, are to enter the spotlight next week when they will give a series of presentations in a bid to ease Uttlesford District Council's (UDC) housing allocation dilemma.

The 'eco-village' is proposed for a site adjacent to the A120 near to Stebbing Green and Boxted Wood and intends to meets UDC's requirement set by government to build 3000 homes by 2021.

UDC?has stated its preferred option for housing is in Elsenham.

The 'eco-village' is designed to be a real green alternative to all of Uttlesford's possible development sites explains Nick Sutcliffe, an advisor from Galliard Homes Limited.

He said: "At the moment the solutions to Uttlesford's housing future involve attaching dwellings to an already existing village, we want to provide something completely different.

"We intend to build a settlement from scratch and because of the location it will fill the housing quota for both Uttlesford and Braintree districts."

The Galliard Homes plan includes four primary schools, a secondary school with local catchment areas, 20 acres of playing fields, 90 acres of wood with allotments, all houses fitted with south facing solar panels and biogas fuel for electricity from compost and waste.

Mr Sutcliffe said: "The infrastructure for all this is already there, we are finalising plans with Essex Highways on a possible extra junction off the A120 for it but the road links are very good for this type of development already.

"The actual build would not involve knocking down or destroying anything, in fact we hope it can actually fit in to the area seamlessly.

"We have no doubt, however, that some difficult decisions will need to be taken but with many benefits for everyone, we want to get the public to engage with us from this early stage."

Although only at an outline stage, the proposed settlement has been met with much opposition even before public viewings of the plans have commenced.

Stebbing Parish Cllr Peter Hall, of Garden Fields, Stebbing, said: "When this plan first surfaced I said to my wife that now is time to move on this, if we don't then the A120 from Dunmow all the way to Braintree will be littered with housing estates."

Mike Kingdom, Stebbing Parish Council chairman added: "We would be very much opposed to a development of this type.

"A development like this will need more thought and consideration and if a planning application is submitted we will make our objections based on that.

"A settlement in Elsenham is the best option."

There are already signs against development in the village of Stebbing when people from Little Dunmow took action against a similar proposed development near their village.

However, Mr Sutcliffe was keen to point out that no planning application has yet been submitted to Uttlesford District Council.

It is in such early stages that the company has no timeframe, costs or even architect's impressions, he said.

For more information call Nick Sutcliffe on 08456 015 432 or e-mail feedback@boxtedwood.com

Members of the public can view the new settlement plans on the following days:

l Great Saling - The Salings, Millennium Village Hall, Piccotts Lane on Monday February 18, 4pm - 8pm

l Stansted Mountfitchet - St John's Church Hall, St. John's Road on Tuesday February 19, 2.30pm - 7.30pm

l Saffron Walden - Courtroom, Old Town Hall, Market Square on Wednesday February 20, 3pm - 7pm

l Great Dunmow - Foakes Hall, Stortford Road on Thursday February 21, 2.30pm - 7.30pm

l Braintree - The Lounge, The Town Hall Centre, Market Square on Friday February 22, 3pm - 7pm

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