A TORY MP has said plans to build 300 homes in Hawkwell is like trying to “cram a quart into a pint pot”.

Rayleigh MP Mark Francois has written to the chief executive of the Planning Inspectorate to list his objection to the proposals from David Wilson Homes to build more than 300 houses at Christmas tree farm.

The application was refused by Rochford councillors and it is now in the process of going to the Government inspector for appeal.

Hawkwell Parish Council and 192 members of the public objected, and a 250-signature petition was handed in to the council.

The scheme was refused by the council’s development control committee as overdevelopment of the green belt site and conflicted with the council’s development plan.

Mr Francois also raised his concerns about the amount of traffic and said the development was not in keeping with the area.

He said: “I have received a number of letters and e-mails from my constituents who are opposed to this application. I, too, am concerned this represents overdevelopment in Hawkwell. There simply is not the infrastructure to cope with a development of this scale and I believe it is a bit like trying to ‘cram a quart into a pint pot’. I hope the inspector may yet decide to turn down the appeal.”

The appeal is set to be heard this spring but a date has not yet been set.