A VILLAGE surgery will not receive its upgraded car park despite plans for up to 80 new homes being given permission.

Developers are required to improve the infrastructure around developments and an agreement was reached with Braintree Council on the improvements needed.

The Hunt Property Trust agreed to pay to extend the Pump House Surgery car park after getting permission to build on land south of Halstead Road in Earls Colne.

However the developer has since applied to vary this condition, something the council has approved, because of a problem with the ownership of the land where the car park was due to be.

A planning statement revealed: “During this process it came to light there is a separate parcel of land owned by a third party, situated between the existing car park and land in the applicant’s control.

“The requirement to obtain third party approval complicated the process for extending the car park and officers have investigated further the likelihood of the car park being extended.

“Having discussed the situation with the parish council, the surgery management, the owner of the surgery site and NHS England it is apparent that no-one is willing to fund the car park extension.”

“A solution could not be reached so officers decided to approve the changes to the agreement and give the developer the go ahead without plans for any further investment in the surgery.”

It means homes will be built without the improved infrastructure, something which is not supposed to happen but often does.

The developer will be obliged make 40 per cent of the homes affordable, pay for a new pedestrian link with Nonancourt Way and contribute towards both secondary school transport and public open space costs.