MORE than 14,000 homes will be built across Essex towns over the next 15 years, after the Government approved the plans reports the Local Democracy Reporter.

Uttlesford District Council has been given the green light for the “ground-breaking” plans, known as a local plan. The major proposals will also include schools, roads, doctors and other infrastructure.

The council’s current plan dates back to 2005, all councils are required to produce a plan and are given housing targets by the Government. It includes 3,738 additional homes on strategic sites and 900 through non-strategic allocations compared to previous plans for 14,741 homes from 2021 to 2041.

John Evans, councillor for planning, said it’s “long awaited.” He added: “Our new Local Plan will be ground breaking in setting higher and exemplar standards in the areas of sustainability, carbon/energy efficiency and bio diversity. The work to get to this point has been very substantial and I would like to thank both residents and business interests for their meaningful contributions in the consultation process”

The major plans include 715 homes in Great Dunmow, 1,506 homes in Takeley, 325 homes in Stansted Mountfitchet, 110 properties in Elsenham and 879 homes in Saffron Walden. It comes after the authority had its planning powers restored three years after the Government raised concerns about “poor performance” in how it made decisions on major applications.

Mr Evans added: “Councillors and officers as well as our external consultants and advisers have worked diligently to get the district to this point and my colleagues and I give our fullest appreciation to them for their contributions too. I look forward optimistically to council adopting the Plan later this Spring.”