A planning application to build 26 homes in a village has been refused by councillors.

The application for Great Yeldham had amassed 157 objection comments from residents.

Braintree Council’s planning committee rejected the application, which was recommended for refusal by planning officers, at a meeting on Tuesday.

If successful the outline application, submitted by Arboretum Partners, would have seen the homes built in Woodpecker Court with a 40 per cent allocation for affordable housing.

Planning officers recommended the application be refused because the site is in the countryside and falls outside of the village boundary.

Facilities and amenities were considered to be beyond a reasonable and safe walking distance and there would have been an over reliance on cars.

Among the objections was Jim Taylor, of Butlers Way, who stated: “Our school would go beyond bursting point having to cope with this latest application along with the Hunnable, Nunns Walk and the redevelopment of the old police station.

“It would result in village children attending a school outside the village, how long before they fill up too, this application is one too many for Great Yeldham.”

The site consisted of 1.82ha, equivalent to just under three football pitches, near to Poole Street.

It has two industrial units, residential properties and an area of farmland, with the industrial units set for demolition.

The agent, Boyer, was contacted for a comment about the council’s decision and whether an appeal would be lodged but did not respond.