Tollesbury Residents Launch Legal Challenge Against Maldon District Council
Resident Mike Olley is raising funds for a judicial review to block a 200-home development approved by Maldon District Council in Tollesbury.
Local resident Mike Olley is raising £15,000 to launch a judicial review against Maldon District Council following the June approval of a 200-home development off Prentice Hall Lane in Tollesbury. The legal challenge, supported by the campaign group Housing Action by Residents of Tollesbury (HART), follows more than 600 resident objections.
Solicitor Colin Gibson alleges that the decision-making process on June 25 was improper, claiming planning officers warned councillors they could lose the ability to refuse future applications if they rejected this specific plan. Andrew Gilbert, chairman of HART, described the determination process as completely unlawful. Maldon District Council has defended its decision, stating the application was properly considered in line with planning policies.
MP Priti Patel has criticized the situation, claiming the village is under siege due to government planning targets that build over the countryside. Opponents cite concerns over traffic, healthcare, and education services. In contrast, the developer, Obsidian Strategic Asset Management, argues the project would create a sustainable neighborhood with affordable housing and improved wildlife habitats. The dispute occurs amid other local projects, including a 25-home retirement community and a separate 149-home appeal.
