Halstead could see up to 30 new housing developments if the council gives landowners the go-ahead.

More than 300 sites were identified in the district during a ten-week "call for sites" to help Braintree Council develop its new Local Plan.

Some of the schemes were in the council’s old Local Development Plan (LDF), but seven of the proposals around the town have not been seen before.

Halstead Trinity councillor Malcolm Fincken said: “All the political parties agree that we need to find suitable sites for new housing in all three towns in the district and in a number of the villages.

“It’s a question of identifying suitable sites and deciding each application on its merits.

“The town council was very well consulted before the last Local Plan went in and we would expect to be similarly consulted before any new sites were agreed."

The biggest potential sites are to the north-east of the town, including three swathes of land owned by the Trustees of the Vaizey Northern Estate Trust.

Separate sites at Cherry Close and near the Bluebridge Industrial Estate could pave the way for a sprawling development adding thousands of homes to the town.

See this week's Halstead Gazette for the full story.