FEARS for the future of Clavering’s historic castle site have been highlighted by English Heritage in response to a bid to build 51 houses on neighbouring land at Pelham road.

Gladman Homes, which has just been refused permission to build 120 homes in Thaxted, is now eyeing up farmland to the west of the village not previously identified by UDC as a potential development site. The developer has submitted a screening opinion to the authority, which is the precursor to a planning application.

In a letter to planners, English Heritage called for an environmental impact assessment and warned: “English Heritage is concerned there may be a significant impact on the historic environment and in particular on the setting of the Clavering Castle scheduled monument.

“The proposed residential development is located immediately adjacent to the scheduled ringwork and associated earthworks with several other highly graded heritage assets, such as Grade I Church of St Mary and St Clement and Grade II listed houses at 1-5 the Church Walk and the Old Hall.

Clavering residents are holding a public meeting next Monday (august 11) in the village hall to discuss their concerns from 7.30pm.

The parish’s local history recorder Jacqueline Cooper said: “A planning application has not yet been submitted, but a large number of households received a leaflet several weeks ago, circulated by Gladman Homes, a Cheshire-based company who aim to get planning permission for sites at the edge of villages and towns. They currently have three sites targeted locally, including Clavering but the field in question is not on the Uttlesford list of possible sites listed some years ago. The idea of developing this field has come completely out of the blue and caused considerable shock in the village.

“Clavering already has three building developments passed which will provide 50 new houses, including 14 affordable homes, on three sites already agreed, which more than meets the local plan for the foreseeable future. Two of them adjoin Oxleys Close near the village shop, the other is on brownfield land at the Jubilee Works on the Stickling Green road.

“The field targeted by Gladman is in between the Vicarage and Watery Stones, a site outside the village planning envelope on arable land. It was part of the Saxon demesne of Clavering manor and is adjacent to the Clavering Castle scheduled monument site.”