PLANS for 7,000 new homes in a quaint south Essex village look set to meet with a wave of objections.

Battlesbridge would become a "vast housing estate" if proposals to build thousands of new homes go ahead, according to the Campaign to Protect Rural England.

The plans, submitted by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, fall under ambitious development proposals for the Thames Gateway area and the east of England. John Prescott has ruled Essex must find enough space to accommodate 130,000 new homes between now and 2012.

Although Chelmsford Council - which has jurisdiction for the tiny village - will not comment on the particulars of the development, a spokesperson confirmed it would object to plans, saying it did not fall into its development control policy.

Published Thursday, November 24, 2005