An £18 million retirement village with more than 100 homes is planned for Braintree.

The development, south of Tortoiseshell Way, will also include a club room and restaurant as well as gardens and three man-made lakes.

Stephen Everington, chief executive of Hallmark Developments, which has submitted plans to Braintree Council, said: "We think this particular scheme is the first of its type to be built in the county.

"We are hoping to make the homes affordable, with the cheapest at about £130,000. Some of the smaller flats and similar would be available for about that price."

A similar development was planned for Little Waltham, near Chelmsford, for 173 homes, but was thrown out by Chelmsford Council at a meeting on February 1.

The site already has outline planning permission for flats, which Mr Everington said had been changed by Hallmark to provide a less dense development.

Published Monday, February 14, 2005

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