Plans by This Land development for up to 455 new homes on Green Belt land in Essex have been thrown out on appeal.
The proposal, which included a multi-use community hall, land for healthcare provision and a standalone early years and childcare nursery at Thundersley, between Rayleigh and Hadleigh, near the Weir Retail Park and the A127, was refused by Castle Point Borough Council’s development management committee in December 2023 on the grounds of it being inappropriate development within the Green Belt.
The applicant’s appeal was heard at a four-day Inquiry at the council offices in June and the planning inspector has now concluded in a report: “I have found that substantial and significant levels of harm would be caused by the proposal to the openness of the Green Belt in spatial and visual terms respectively.”
In response, Cllr Warren Gibson, deputy leader and portfolio holder for strategic planning, said: “This outcome is a testament to the hard work of officers, the councillors and members of the public for their involvement in this application and appeal.
“The council was therefore able to robustly defend the reason for refusal and we welcome the thorough work undertaken by the planning inspector to dismiss this appeal, which protects this important area of Green Belt.”
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