A CONTROVERSIAL development has seen building work get underway to bring 80 new homes to Halstead.

Developer Bellway has started work on the homes on land off Oak Road.

Of the 80 homes, 52 will be for private sale and 28 will be affordable homes for rent or shared ownership.

Braintree Council approved Bellway’s detailed plans for the project in June.

The plans received opposition from residents as well as Halstead Town Council who objected to the bid amid concerns about road safety and flooding. 

Spanning more than ten acres of land on the southern edge of Halstead, the development will also include landscaped public open space and a play area for children.

The site will be accessed from Tidings Hill with a tree-lined avenue being created at the entrance to the development.

A mix of apartments, bungalows and two to four-bedroom houses will be provided as part of the affordable housing allocation.

Jenny Walker, sales director at Bellway Essex, said: “Our new project will provide much-needed homes in a location where the demand for housing continues to grow.

“This will be our third development in Halstead in recent years and will take our total contribution of new homes in the town over this period to over 400.

“We completed 103 homes at Portway Place off Colchester Road in 2020 and are currently building another 218 homes at our Willow Park site off Winston Way.

“This latest development will deliver a wide variety of private and affordable housing, including apartments and bungalows to meet the needs of local people.

“In line with the council’s priority to secure more smaller homes, 15 per cent of the private homes will be two-bedroom houses.

“The development will also bring other significant benefits to the town.

“We expect to create around 70 jobs during the construction phase of the project and will be providing funding of around £365,000 for local services and facilities as part of the planning agreement for the new homes.

“These contributions will include more than £330,000 for primary education and almost £35,000 towards the provision of a new community building at Butler Road.”

The first homes at the new development are due to go on sale at the end of this year.