A MAJOR housing scheme of up to 126 homes has been proposed on farmland on the southern edge of North Stifford, raising fresh questions about development pressure on one of Thurrock's most historic rural settlements.

The outline application, which includes 50 per cent affordable housing, has been submitted for agricultural land north of the A13 and directly off High Road. The application (and opportunity to comment) can be found via this link.

The plans, which follow some local consulation, are likely to be met with considerable local opposition. Residents have already said they will mount a sustained campaign against it.

While details except access remain reserved for later decision, developers say the scheme has been designed to sensitively extend the village while protecting key heritage assets, including the Grade I listed Church of St Mary the Virgin.

North Stifford, known for its village green, traditional pub and mix of regular and post war buildings, lies within the green belt and is surrounded by a landscape of ancient fields, mature hedgerows and farmland.

The proposed site sits beside the historic core of the village and close to a cluster of listed buildings.

According to the applicants, Obsidian Strategic Asset Management Ltd, the plan has undergone several design changes to respond to the village's heritage sensitivities.

Housing would be concentrated to the south, with limited development to the north, preserving long established open views around St Mary's Church.

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Landscape buffers and new public green spaces are proposed to ensure what developers describe as a "generous spatial separation" between the church and new homes.

The scheme also proposes to reopen Cuckoo Lane, an historic route long severed by past development.

This would form a pedestrian and cycle link and create new "framed views" of the church spire, which is currently best appreciated from the eastern approach to the village.

Access to the estate of one to four-bedroom homes would be from High Road, with a secondary emergency route via Clockhouse Lane.

Developers say all access works have been designed to sit entirely within the existing road corridor to minimise impact on the setting of the church.

Other features include a farmstead-style cluster of homes near the eastern entrance, centrally located apartment buildings designed in a local vernacular style, and green spaces intended to complement the existing cricket pitch and reflect the traditional village structure.

The application argues the scheme would "rebalance" North Stifford's layout, which has become weighted westward through modern development, while enhancing public access to heritage assets.

The scheme now runs concurrently with two applications on neighbouring fields on the other side of the A13.

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The planned sites for the new homes south of the A13.

In July last year Nub News reported on the submission of plans for 500 homes in nearby Stifford Clays.