Plans revealed for 1,000 homes with Wethersfield prisons

STUNNED campaigners fear up to 1,000 new homes could form part of plans for two mega prisons in their village.

The Ministry of Justice is looking at plans to bring the two new prisons to land at Wethersfield Airfield.

The prisons would create the largest prison complex in western Europe and as a result, the move has sparked furious opposition from local campaigners.

Now a Freedom of Information (FOI) request has uncovered more details about the future of the site.

The FOI, submitted by the Stop Wethersfield Airfield Prisons (SWAP) group, reveals up to 1,000 homes could be included in the plans.

A report by the Defense Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) from 2021, which was revealed by the FOI, shows options for the site.Option one proposes 273 homes while option two proposes prisons, up to 1,000 homes, expanded storage and a solar farm.

The report also revealed previous suggestions for the land including a hotel for visitors, a zoo, a boarding school, a traveller site, a golf course, a race track, a wind farm and a wildlife conservation area.

SWAP fears the move could be a ruse for further development the report saying “agreeing to the prison as a primary land use for the site will drive forward other development”.

SWAP chair Alan MacKenzie said: “The report calls the site brownfield. Anyone who has seen our videos of the site from the air knows that’s rubbish.

“What the DIO calls previously developed land is home to protected species and a wide mix of habitats.

“The DIO’s plans are flying in the face of National Planning policies and the newly adopted policies in Braintree District Council's Local Plan.

“We urge the DIO to meet with us again to discuss the realistic commercial opportunities which can arise from rewilding and other activities which local residents support.”

A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said: “We want to work closely with Braintree residents before submitting a planning application, which is why we consulted widely and held online and in person information sessions.