ANOTHER 47 homes have been approved for Rayleigh, near where to 500 homes were approved last year.

A planning application for 21 flats and 26 houses to be built on land adjacent Grange Villa, London Road, Rayleigh has been approved by the Development Committee at Rochford District Council.

The application was deferred in June this year after concerns from committee members about the proposed pedestrian crossing, flooding and drainage matters and Highway improvement plans.

The approval comes a year after 500 homes were passed by the committee also for the north of London Road, Rayleigh, an application that proved controversial among residents due to fears about whether Rayleigh’s infrastructure could cope.

Richard Lambourne, Rayleigh resident and chairman of Rayleigh Action Group, has concerns about how Rayleigh will cope.

He said: “It is one of four developments along a 100-yard stretch which cause chaos while construction is in progress and with the filling station will cause a real danger to schoolchildren and motorists.”

Neil Hookway, Ukip councillor and member of the development committee, said the application was not passed unanimously by the committee. He added: “I understand there are matters which are controversial but as it was laid before us it would seem that the items that caused it to be deferred were answered.”