A fresh application has been made to build another 65 houses in Brantham.

Henley-in-Arden based Rainier Development Ltd are seeking outline planning permission for the dwellings along with areas of landscaping and public open space, including vehicular access, and associated infrastructure works, on agricultural land south Slough Road, in the village.

The development is on the edge of Brantham and close to East End, and has attracted considerable opposition locally.

Objectors to the scheme claim the area cannot cope with extra traffic, local amenities are not adequate and should be refused on the same grounds as last time when planners concluded the development was not sustainable and would unacceptably link two settlements.

Concerns have also been expressed that a traffic survey nearby has been carried out during the coronavirus lockdown, therefore skewing results, however the applicants of this development are not the people who have commissioned that particular survey.

The developers were refused permission for a similar proposal last October, and the developers have submitted an appeal against that decision.

Meanwhile, Rainier has submitted a new, very similar, application with an offer to make 40% of the homes affordable, as defined by government standards.

As this is only for outline permission, the size and types of new homes, have not yet been confirmed, although they have taken advice from Babergh's strategic housing officer and propose 20 two-bed, 26 three-bed, and 19 four-bed

Rainier claim in its planning statement the tenure would be mixed and could include 2.5 and 1.5 storey houses.

Alastair McCraw, Babergh District councillor for Brantham ward and parish council chairman, is keeping an open mind about the application but pointed out the plans were very similar to the one previously refused.

As ever, developers have the right to re-apply (and to appeal when refused permission), said Cllr McCraw. "I never approach an application with a predetermined position. This is a reapplication with some changes. I argued very strongly against last year's application which was refused. Brantham PC will send a considered response and I will speak at the planning committee.

"As this seems to be substantially the same application, unless something new emerges, it seems likely that I would say something similar.

"I have not finished examining and comparing the applications. I also await the other statutory responses before I speak. They're often very informative."

Brantham has seen permission granted for 345 new houses in the past four years, including 288 at Brantham Industrial Estate, while neighbouring East Bergholt could see more than 200 homes built over the next three years.

Residents can make comments on this application until May 28, by going to the Babergh planning page and using application reference: DC/20/01775