PLANS to build a care home alongside hundreds of new homes have been dropped.

Bellway Homes has announced it will not be building a residential facility for the elderly on land east of Sudbury Road, Halstead having taken on the a scheme which also includes building 218 houses.

Gladman Developments was originally granted outline planning permission to build a care home and 205 homes on the site back in November 2017, but has since passed the project over.

A spokesman said: "Bellway Homes, having assessed local need and following conversations with Braintree Council have since decided not to bring forward plans for the proposed residential care home.

"As a result, Bellway will soon be making a full application setting out the detail for residential development."

Bellway will be unveiling its vision for the 218 home development during a public consultation event on Wednesday.

The developer is asking for feedback from residents on designs which will be submitted as part of a planning application next month.

As part of the proposed development, 30 per cent of the houses will be allocated as affordable and a new public open space, including a children's playground, will be created.

More than 1300 objections were submitted to Braintree Council when the plans for the site were first unveiled back in the spring of 2017, with some councillors admitting this was the largest number they could remember.

However, despite concerns about the impact the new homes would have on Halstead's infrastructure, planning permission was granted because of the absence of a local plan.

The public consultation on the latest plans for land to the east of Sudbury Road takes place at The Ramsey Academy off Colne Road between 4pm and 8pm.

Bellway was contacted for further comment.