Residents called for 81 homes to be built at Broomhills Industrial Estate in Braintree

Residents have called for new homes to be built on an abandoned industrial estate which they say continues to be a hotspot for anti-social behaviour.Homeowners in Nayling Road, Braintree, say they are desperate for the council to approve plans to build 81 homes on the nearby Broomhills Industrial Estate because it has become a “blight” on the town.Plutus Estates is seeking full planning permission to demolish derelict buildings on the site, which is off Pods Brook Road, before building a mix of social and private housing.The developer’s initial plans to build 107 homes on the brownfield land was refused last year but it hopes its latest bid, which was submitted six months ago, will get the approval of Braintree Council’s planning officers.With no decision yet made on the latest plans, resident Rob Miller says frustration is growing at the apparent failure to redevelop the old industrial estate.Despite the support for the application, two letters objecting to the proposals have been submitted to the council, with concerns focusing on overdevelopment of the site and increased traffic.Were the scheme to get the go ahead, the land would need to be decontaminated before building work could begin. The Environment Agency is satisfied the site could be cleared properly and has raised no objections.