DEVELOPERS claim they were encouraged by Castle Point Council to build on green belt land.

Fox Land and Property continues to challenge a council decision rejecting plans to build 165 homes west of Glebelands, Thundersley.

The plans have been recommended for refusal and councillors will decide on the developer’s latest application to build 140 homes on the same site next week.

Glebelands is the last remaining green belt site in Castle Point’s St George’s ward, and has been eyed by the company as a place to build homes since 2010 Ivor Beamon, project manager for Fox Land and Property, defended the latest application.

He said: “We were encouraged by Castle Point Council as it is in the new local plan.

“Wewere encouraged by the virtue of it being allocated in the new local plan when previously it wasn’t identified.

“We asked the council if we should apply again and it said go for it.

“The site is allocated and with that in mind we put the application in.”

Castle Point Council earmarked the site for just 100 homes in its draft local plan.

Mr Beamon said: “If you are allocating sites for housing, you should make the best use of that resource.

“It’s unusual for councillors to go against officer recommendation and this has got recommendation for refusal.

“This is similar to the last application, it’s about homes for local people.

“There’s negative feeling towards any housing on the green belt. If you look at the sites, this is sandwiched between a major road with a flyover and the urban edge. If you’re going to release greenbelt, it seems the most appropriate site.”

A High Court Appeal over the 165 homes application will be heard over two days from Monday, November 10.

Castle Point Council was not able to provide a comment before the Echo went to press.