DUNMOW S long-awaited north-west bypass could be completed in less than 18 months from today, according to new plans submitted by developers. Wickford Developments, which is building the new Woodlands Park housing estate on the outer echelons of Great Dun

DUNMOW'S long-awaited north-west bypass could be completed in less than 18 months from today, according to new plans submitted by developers.

Wickford Developments, which is building the new Woodlands Park housing estate on the outer echelons of Great Dunmow, has recently applied to build 190 homes as part of the development and has included the proviso that they finish the bypass.

Dunmow town councillor and planning committee chairman, Clive Smith, heralded the step as a great move forward.

He said: "We could see the bypass completed within one year or at least two. It is great news for the town as we have been waiting for this for a long time.

"I have heard that the current completed section is not quite up to standard and this could delay things a bit - but on the whole it is good news."

According to Essex County Council figures, over 300 cars per hour at peak times could be redirected away from Dunmow's often congested town centre via the new route.

Vehicles would take the new road from the Woodlands park roundabout near to Tesco to an already constructed roundabout on the B184 near to Little Easton.

Originally, the bypass did not have to be built until the 651st house on the new estate was built and occupied, but that day is still over a decade away due to a recent collapse in the housing market.

Now though, if planning permission is granted by Uttlesford District Councillors following a site visit in December, construction could start early next year.

A planning statement submitted on behalf of Wickford said: "Planning permission already exists for the construction of the bypass, having been granted in 1996. "Wickford now propose to submit a planning application to build up to 190 houses at the northern end of the proposed road.

"This will include a commitment to complete the bypass within a period of 12 months of the granting of the necessary planning permissions and highway consents, thereby bringing forward the completion of the bypass by many years."

The news will delight residents living on Rosemary Way in Great Dunmow; they have often voiced displeasure about their homes being noisily blighted by lorries and cars passing through on the way to other towns and villages north of Dunmow.

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