FRESH plans to build a new estate in Sible Hedingham could bring 73 new homes to the village if they get the green light.

Developers Land Allocation and EHA Farms want the go-ahead to build the homes just west of Prayors Hill in Sible Hedingham.

The application is the latest in a number of bids to build on the site.

Developers first submitted plans to build there in October 2019.

That application was for 90 homes.

The plans ran into strong opposition from residents and Sible Hedingham Parish Council, with the application receiving 58 objections.

Objections at the time were due to concerns over the safety of the site’s two access junctions on Wethersfield Road and Prayors Hill, the impact on Sible Hedingham’s rural environment and on the village’s infrastructure.

Revised plans were submitted in March but once again received objections from residents.

Now the plans have been revised again with the number of proposed houses down from 90 to 73.

However, opposition to the application from residents and the village’s parish council remains strong.

Since October 2019, the application has seen more than 70 objections from residents.

The parish council is also against the plans.

The council’s objection says: “Sible Hedingham Parish Council is objecting once again to this proposed development.

“The proposed access on both roads is not acceptable in terms of safety, both roads are in fact rural lanes with no pavements or lighting.

“The access to the Tanners site has not been resolved and indeed is not acceptable to Highways and this development is also proposing an access on to Prayors Hill/Church Street directly opposite the Tanners access.

“It is unsafe for pedestrians to walk along Wethersfield Road and Prayors Hill as there are no pavements and there are blind sightlines.

“This would inevitably mean that all journeys would be made by cars which would exacerbate the already dangerous exit onto Swan Street at the end of Rectory Road.”

The parish council also says there is no safe access for wheelchairs, pushchairs or mobility scooters, and that all of its previous objections are still valid.

It added: “There have been a number of accidents on Wethersfield Road which does indicate the dangers on this road.

“It is very difficult for two cars to pass on either road which adds to the unsafe notion of the proposed access points.

“The local infrastructure cannot support this application, the doctors and schools are full and the traffic passing through Sible Hedingham is already at its peak.

“The nearest bus stop is by the Sugar Loaves which is a good walk with no footpaths until the bottom of Prayors Hill.

“There is nowhere to cross the road due to a lack of footpaths.”

Braintree Council will rule on the application.