OUTLINE planning permission for nine new homes in Steeple Bumpstead has been approved.

Mark Weatherhead Ltd applied for outline permission to build nine three bedroom dwellings at the site of a former agricultural depot on Helions Road, Steeple Bumpstead.

The application was unanimously approved at a meeting of Braintree Council’s planning committee on Tuesday evening.

Several objections had been raised by residents about the development increasing the risk of flooding the village and the added strain it would put on infrastructure like health care provision and the surrounding road network.

However speaking at the meeting, John O’Reilly Ciccioni (Conservative, Gosfield and Greenstead Green) said a lot of these concerns would be addressed when specific details of the application were announced at a later date.

He said: “The developer has taken into account the parish council’s objection which was that yes they would like it developed but not on the bit at the back which is out in the countryside.

“The National Planning Policy Framework is fully in favour of this kind of development and as we are only considering outline permission I think the conclusion is an honest conclusion that policy would be in favour of developing this plot.”

David Mann (Labour, Bocking North) supported the move to accept the proposals on the grounds that the majority of the site was brownfield and the parish council accept the principle of development on the majority of it.

Peter Schwier (Conservative, Three Fields) asked that a report was compiled on broadband provision for the area, which it was agreed would take place at this stage.

You can view the plans on the Braintree Council website by searching: 16/01525/OUT.