Braintree planning councillors have ordered a pollution check on a former village gas works which is being developed for housing.

Approving the Gas Lane scheme in Coggeshall, councillors asked that a contamination clause - requiring testing and remedial works to be carried out if necessary - be enforced.

Cllr David Mann said: "We have got to take the possible pollution very seriously. If that means the developer has to start all over again, so be it."

The Gas Lane site was one of two proposed brownfield developments for Coggeshall which sparked protest from residents last week.

They packed Braintree Council chamber as the area planning committee members debated the building of two houses on the former gas works site and the moving of a barn - to be used as housing - on the former isinglass factory site in West Street.

During an extended public question time, residents close to the former gas works expressed concerns that the development was going ahead without a proper cleansing of the site of contaminated waste.

Michael Norgrove, who lives close to the development, said: "This is a very dangerous site and we don't believe that the developers have viewed with sufficient seriousness their obligations to local people."

The site is being developed by Crips Group Limited.

Residents also expressed a range of concerns over the West Street proposal, part of a plan to redevelop the whole factory site for housing and business use.

They fear that moving the barn would lead to damage to protected trees, access and parking problems, loss of privacy to nearby homes and threats to wildlife.

One said: "We are not asking for the impossible, just some consideration."

The moving of the West Street barn will have to wait further negotiations between site developer, St Giles Developments Limited and the district council, the committee decided.

Cllr Barbara Buchan said: "We need more information on this. Once members are fully armed with the facts we can make an informed decision."

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