Preview plans for 300 homes in Saffron Walden were unveiled yesterday (Wednesday).

Residents, councillors and interested parties were invited to an exhibition at the Town Hall, to see the proposals for the development on land south of Radwinter Road.

Developers Manor Oak Homes are proposing a residential mix of 220 houses, 30 extra care facilities and 12 bungalows.

There will also be a “generous amount” of open space, 1,800 square metres of office land and a link road to Shire Hill.

But initial fears have been raised over the impact of traffic.

Vic Lelliott, of Debden Road, said: “The development looks fine but it doesn’t solve the problem of building houses on that side of the town.

“The biggest problem is Saffron Walden is becoming a commuter town.

“There are not enough jobs for the people coming in and they are going to have to come down the old A11 or going to have to get the train. The development is in the wrong place, but that is always going to be the case.”

Another resident, James Lewis, said: “It is so obvious that all these schemes are unworkable.

“It is a market town. It wasn’t built for large commercial vehicles.”

William Main, of Manor Oak Homes, said the traffic problems had been taken into account when drawing up the proposal.

He told the Reporter: “We are creating a link road through Shire Hill. Saffron Walden does have a traffic issue but we won’t be compounding Thaxted and Radwinter Roads.”

He added: “It is a nice scheme. The Tesco side of town has a very urban feel but then it gets more and more rural.

“There is a housing shortage in the area, hopefully, with some supply that will help eliminate the house price inflation.

“This is a public exhibition and we will get feedback.

“We will take on board the comments.”