A BID to build ten new homes in a village will be decided at appeal.

Outline plans for the ten houses on land north of Beckingham Road in Tolleshunt D’Arcy were submitted to Maldon District Council in October.

The council rejected the plans in January due to the development failing to make any provisions for affordable housing.

It also said the development would be “an unwelcome visual intrusion into the open and undeveloped part of the countryside, resulting in the urbanisation of the character and appearance of the rural area.”

But the developer has now appealed against the decision.

The appeal will decide whether the council can demonstrate a five year supply of housing, whether the development would have a significant and detrimental impact on the character of the area and whether the development meets the requirement for affordable housing.

The appeal statement said: The proposed scheme is considered to be in a sustainable location as the development lies close to the heart of the village, immediately adjacent to the residential development limits.”

It added: “The land is not within any area of special landscape designation. The resulting design and layout would ensure that the development will respect the character of and the relationship to the neighbouring residential properties.”

The statement also said there was no requirement within the local plan for the provision of any affordable housing for a development of this size.

A planning inspector will now be appointed to decide on the plans.