A BID which aims to bring 80 new homes to a village could be a step closer after a report recommended it for approval.

Developer Persimmon Homes has applied for permission to build the housing on land in Earls Colne.

The site is located in a field south of Halstead Road and directly west of the village’s Pump House surgery building, with access via Halstead Road.

Originally, outline planning permission for the development was granted by planning bosses back in 2017.

Since then, the developers have been trying to get a reserved matters bid to finalise the development plans over the line.

In July 2021, a reserved matters bid was granted, but it was discovered the bid would need to go back to Braintree Council “due to the necessary inclusion of a foul water pump station which previously was not considered”.

Another planning meeting in September 2021 saw the planning committee defer the application due to the possible implications of the new foul water pump station on an existing neighbouring amenity.

Now developers are having a third attempt, having moved the planned pump station to the southern end of the site.

In a planning report officers have recommended the proposal is given the go-ahead when it goes before the planning committee on January 25.

Overall, the application has received little objection from groups such as Environmental Health, Essex Police, Essex Fire and Earls Colne Parish Council.

The report also states no further objections from residents have been received since the last planning committee meeting in September.

In the report’s conclusion, planning development manager Christopher Paggi said: “A pump station is required to process foul water from the proposed development.

“The pump station was originally proposed on an area of open space on the eastern aspect of the development.

“It is now proposed on the southern tip of the site, away from existing and future occupiers.

“Officers are satisfied that from a noise, odour, visual and layout perspective that the development is acceptable and that members’ previous concerns have now been satisfactorily overcome.”