Housing campaigners in Oakham have accused Rutland County Council of 'opening the floodgates' after a developer revealed plans for 120 homes on the edge of town.

East Midlands developer Jenkins Weir has begun public consultation about its ambitions on land north of Braunston Road, which includes a consultation website going live on Monday.

The 48-year-old family-run firm plans to submit an outline application for 120 homes on the 8.2ha site to Rutland County Council in September. In the meantime, people have until midnight on Tuesday August 17 to comment.

The homes would be of varying sizes, with 30 per cent of them classed as 'affordable' to help meets the housing needs of Oakham and Rutland.

The consultation website said the homes would be of high quality design to reflect the built of Oakham using materials to reflect local vernacular. They will also meet government objectives with landscaping and trees as part of new schemes.

It added: "The development will leaving a positive legacy for Oakham and, in the same vein as the recent Spinney Hill development by Honwood Homes, will encapsulate the ethos of being a well-designed, sustainable and beautiful place to live."

Alistair Weir, Managing Director of Jeakins Weir Ltd also said: "Having grown up in Oakham, a town that my family have lived in for 50 years, I want to make sure that our proposals provide homes that both Jeakins Weir and Oakham can be proud of and that will enhance the town.

"We did so at our Spinney Hill site on Uppingham Road and we see this site off Braunston Road as being a great opportunity to provide a similar development that will enhance the approach into Oakham as well as to provide much needed high quality, well designed houses for the town and its residents.

"I remain committed to Oakham and will ensure that the houses we build meet these objectives."

The proposal follows a decision by Rutland County Council last month to approve plans for 62 homes off Braunston Road- a move which was reacted to with 'disgust' by housing campaigners, as reported by Nub News.

Oakham South councillor Nick Woodley then quit the county council after speaking out against the scheme, as also reported.

Yesterday, a Facebook campaign group set up by Scott Henderson, posted the proposals from Jenkins Weir.

It commented: "ANOTHER 120 NEW HOUSES OFF BRAUNSTON RD!?!?

"Thanks Rutland Council Council for opening the floodgates...

"Let's see you PUSH this development through too, regardless of ANY PUBLIC OPINION and despite NOT being in the Local Plan."

Scott added: "I would argue that the only reason the other Braunston Rd site only received 3 objections was due to a serious lack of awareness by the council - 162 objections were received once 'we' knew about it!

"I can confirm that this new Braunston Road is NOT in the current Local Plan - but this is currently under review - being discussed at some point in September - what's the betting it suddenly appears in the new version - just like the 1st Braunston Road site in 2020!?!"