HALSTEAD Town Council has objected to the latest bid for a set of houses on the site of historic air raid shelters.

Halstead New Homes is looking to develop the site on land to the east of Halstead High Street, next to where the old Courtaulds silk factory used to be.

The plans outline proposals for 31 homes each with its own parking and amenity areas.

It includes the retention of ten air raid shelters, two of which would become a “Second World War experience”.

The warden's hut would also be retained, which developers hope to convert into an information and visitor centre and café to celebrate the site.

Plans still include the removal of five air raid shelters, although the plans outline changes in surface material which will be used to identify where they were.

Last October, Braintree Council refused the same plans, for reasons relating to heritage, design, ecology, affordable housing and financial contributions.

Plans have been re-submitted with changes.

Halstead Town Council discussed the proposals at its latest meeting.

Garry Warren proposed that, while the council welcomed the proposals for the shelters, given that this is the “best plan yet”, it objects to the application due to the fact that houses are not in keeping with the design of adjacent properties, and in some cases overshadow them.

The town council also said comments made by Anglian Water related to flooding, by the Archaeological report, and by the Fire service related to access to the site must also be taken into account.

This was seconded by  James Bond, and unanimously agreed.

The former silk factory, which produced parachutes during the Second World War, was a potential target for bomber attacks, so 15 underground air raid shelters were built, along with a warden’s hut.

The site also contains a number of protected trees.

Objections to previous plans included concerns raised by residents such as loss of wildlife habitat, increased traffic congestion, parking, overdevelopment, the need for 31 homes and the impact on the town's heritage.

Similar concerns have been raised once again, with various objections already made over the new proposals.

Despite the town council’s objection, plans will once again be decided on by Braintree Council planning bosses.