DEVELOPERS eyeing up Halstead’s open spaces suffered a blow as several sites were blocked from the draft Local Plan.

Braintree Council’s Local Plan Sub-Committee met last Wednesday and discussed a number of proposed developments in the town.

But it was bad news for developers, as many were deemed unsuitable.

Land east of Sudbury Road is a hot-topic within the town after Gladman Developments opened a public consultation into the site.

But both this site and the neighbouring land adjoining Halstead Cricket Club were rejected by the committee.

Members felt the open space and surrounding rural area should be protected, despite the potential to build 50 homes a year on the land.

A site for 400 homes on land near Cherry Tree Close was rejected unanimously.

Councillors ruled the large site was too prominent, negatively affecting the rural landscape of the area.

Plans for the redevelopment of Halstead business centre, on Factory Lane West were removed after the Environment Agency revealed 94 per cent of the site is on a flood plain.

Land west of Mount Hill was not allocated for housing, as was land at Sloe Hill, as the site is a designated Local Wildlife Site with protected trees and a public right of way.

Plans four specialist housing at Blamsters Farm, Mount Hill, were deferred until a later date pending further correspondence.

Up to 14 homes can be built by Greenways Housing in Balls Chase, despite being labelled a ‘near-miss spot’ for accidents.

While, the land east of the High Street has retained its allocation for full comprehensive redevelopment.