WORRIED residents fear plans for 163 new houses behind a popular pub could change their village forever.

Developers want to build the new estate on land near the Lion Inn, Main Road, Boreham.

A previous application by Cogent Land for 200 homes in the same location was refused by Chelmsford City Council in October after receiving more than 200 negative comments on the council’s website.

Cogent Land has appealed the decision and this is due to be heard in October, but meanwhile it has also submitted the smaller application for 163 homes, which Cogent Land hopes will deliver affordable housing and “significant capital investment to the area and increased spending in local businesses.”

But Alan Swash, a Boreham resident and chairman of the Boreham Conservation Society, said:"Boreham is a village and for a number of years people have been fighting against the expansion of Chelmsford to the North East, which would swallow up Boreham and would take it from a stand-alone village to just an extension of Chelmsford.

“We argue the green spaces between Boreham and the extension of Chelmsford should be maintained.

“Boreham is a community, there’s a lot of activity here and many people want to keep it like that.

“Also the schools and doctor surgery are running at full capacity already.

“There are about 1,500 homes in Boreham so the development would be a significant increase in size, which couldn’t be accommodated without a detrimental affect on the village.

“People have been rallying round and we are encouraging people to write in.

“The housing development would have a significant affect on the community as a village; it would distort the community as it is at the moment.

“There is currently a steady flow of people moving in and out and the village can adapt to this but if there was a big increase it would distort the village considerably.”

A spokesman for Cogent Land said: “The site is ideally positioned to deliver much needed new family homes being located on the western edge of Boreham village in very close proximity to shops and services.

“The development would deliver a significant capital investment into the area with increased spending in local businesses, and financial contributions of approximately £2.5 million.

“The proposals will also deliver up to 35 per cent affordable housing in accordance with local planning policy and substantial areas of new managed public open space and landscaping for the enjoyment of existing and new residents alike.”