AFFLUENT residents have snubbed more five bedroom homes being built in their village in favour of more affordable housing.

Developer Hills Building Group wants to build nine affordable homes to rent in desirable Dedham, where homes have fetched as much as £2million.

In total, it wants to build 17 homes on the plot, off Manningtree Road, with the other eight properties sold privately.

Dedham Parish Council drew up a plan three years ago, which recognised the need for more affordable housing in the posh village where the average three-bedroom home costs £400,000.

The cheapest property on the market in Dedham is around £230,000 for a two-bed terrace home.

Sheila Beeton, parish council chairman, said 73 per cent of residents who attended an exhibition of the blueprints backed the mixed-use scheme and called for more smaller houses.

She said: “There was a view there aren’t enough three bedroom properties and some people want more two bedroom properties. Generally, they don’t want to see more five bedroom properties.

“When a plot becomes available, that tends to be what developers put on them or two bedroom houses are extended to five bedrooms.

“Over time, there will be little or no smaller units for younger people or for older people to downsize to.”

Mrs Beeton said 93 per cent of those who attended the exhibition at the Duchy Barn, Dedham, had lived in the village for an average of 30 years. She added: “People now, even though they have been in the village a long time, are being much more aware of the need for housing.”

The affordable housing will be run by Colne Housing.

Mrs Beeton said its representatives had assured her Dedham residents, or those with an association to the village, would be given top priority for the affordable homes.

But she insisted the parish council would monitor this carefully.

Hills Building Group is expected to submit a planning application for the 17 homes to Colchester Council next month.

There is already affordable housing in Manningtree Road and Long Road West.

The parish council will discuss the proposals at its next meeting on October 6.