PLANS to build a 275 home estate on island green belt land have been withdrawn...to the delight of campaigners.

Persimmon Homes had planned to build the houses, as well as retail space and community facilities, on land to the east of Canvey Road - known as the Dutch Village.

The application had been lodged in July 2015. Nearly two years on, Persimmon had withdrawn the application via a letter to Castle Point Council on Wednesday.

The letter, signed by planning manager David Moseley, said the company wanted to “review its current proposals”.

It comes more than a month after the developer lost on appeal against the council to build a 265 home estate in Jotmans Lane, Benfleet.

Mr Moseley declined to give any more information when contacted by the Echo.

Previous incarnations of the scheme have appeared as far back as the Seventies.

Reacting to the news, the Canvey Green Belt Campaign Group, which has long hit out at the proposals, spoke of its delight at the news. The group has urged for campaigning to continue amid fears other sites could be sought by housing developers.

Veteran Tory councillor Ray Howard said he is delighted with the withdrawal and believes there are alternative sites which could be developed instead of the Dutch Village.

He said: “Planning applications have been put in for the land under Persimmon Homes when the company had different names.

“There was one in the Seventies and one in about 1985 which was the last one. It was refused both occasions. There is a long history on that site.

“I was delighted to hear that the latest application has been withdrawn.

“I know people need homes - I am not one of those people who don’t own up to their responsibilities - but they should not develop such a nice, open area.

“I am not on the development committee but I am confident that they would not have rejected the application.

“There are much better places that could have been developed.”

He added that the council will continue to pay Persimmon £300 a year to allow people access to the land.