Dandara has received outline planning permission for a 160-home development on the edge of Latchingdon, Maldon.
The independent housebuilder’s scheme will see 25 acres of former farmland transformed into a landscape-led neighbourhood comprising homes for all stages of life.
Dandara says that the new development will help address growing demand in the area, at a time when housing delivery is currently falling short of the yearly requirement under Maldon Council’s Local Plan.
Reserved matters approval is expected later this year and construction is set to begin in Q1 2026, with the first homes scheduled for completion by August that year. The masterplan includes a mix of bungalows and family homes designed in keeping with Latchingdon’s character, using red brick, black weatherboarding and cream render. Homes will be set within generous green infrastructure, including walking and cycling routes, two new ponds and a large linear park.
Andrew Wickett, managing director at Dandara Eastern, said: “This scheme gives Dandara the genuine opportunity to provide much-needed new housing for Latchingdon in a way that feels sensitive to the village and its setting. We’ve designed a neighbourhood with character, homes that look and feel right for the area, surrounded by open space and natural landscaping, with room for the community to grow. And with at least half of the homes to be affordable, this will help more local people stay close to family, work and support networks.”
The Outline Planning Permission states at least half of the homes will be delivered as affordable housing. Alongside new homes, the scheme will include a 100m² office hub to support local remote workers, and land has been set aside for a future nursery, helping to embed day-to-day amenities within the heart of the neighbourhood.
Sustainability is a key focus of the scheme, with every home including an electric vehicle charging point, and the buildings will be designed with high levels of insulation and energy efficiency to reduce heat loss and running costs. A strong emphasis on biodiversity will see wildflower meadows, tree-lined routes and natural play spaces woven into the landscape, delivering a significant net gain for local ecology.
Dandara’s investment is expected to unlock around £2.7million in local contributions through an S106 agreement – supporting vital services such as healthcare, education, bus provision and libraries.
