Campaigners fear a proposed 150-home development will lead to the “urbanisation” of their village.

Developer Rose Builders has submitted an outline planning application for 150 houses on 7.45 hectares in the Dale Hall area of Lawford, near Manningtree.

People living in the village have formed a group in opposition to the plans saying the development will eat into land that for years has been protected in the Local Plan as Strategic Green Gap, designed to ensure there is adequate open space between developments.

But planning officers at Tendring District Council last week ruled that previous Local Plans are out of date and that they are now guided by the Government’s National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), which encourages councils to treat proposals for housing and employment positively.

The Parish Council has backed the proposal, which it says is sustainable.

However, according to Roy Corbin, one of the leaders of the opposition group, 174 people have signed a petition against the plans.

He said: “The main public concerns are the existing high level of traffic congestion, the urbanisation of Lawford, and why is this all happening in Lawford with no developments planned for the Mistley and Manningtree parishes?”

Chairman of Lawford Parish Council, Alan Coley, said Lawford has the transport infrastructure and school vacancies to support an new influx of people.

He added: “The proposals include plans to develop old farm houses into offices, as well as supply a proportion of affordable housing. These are all benefits for the village.”