CAMPAIGNERS made an impassioned stand at a planning appeal as they fought to save green belt farmland from a developer seeking to build up to 326 homes.

Developer Colonnade appealed against Rochford District Council’s rejection of its application to build on land at Coombes Farm, off Stambridge Road, Rocheway and Mill Lane, between Stambridge and Rochford.

At the appeal, heard at the council’s offices in Hockley Road, Rayleigh, five members of campaign group Residents Against Coombes Farm Expansion, told the hearing what the loss of the site would mean for them.

Group founder James Bowker, 44, who lives close to the site in Mornington Avenue, said the farmland was well loved by many people as a popular recreational space, was important as a wildlife habitat, and formed a natural and necessary buffer between Rochford and Stambridge town boundaries.

He told the inspector: “It is in your hands to protect this really quite special area for future generations.

“There should be no development at Coombes Farm, not a single brick laid or a drop of concrete poured.”

Also addressing the hearing was 57-year-old Ray Stephenson, of Lingfield Drive, who has lived in Rochford all his life.

Fellow resident Nicholas Fleming, of Stambridge Road, said: “If the development is allowed to proceed, this very valuable asset to the people of Rochford will be lost for ever.”

Mark Francois, Conservative parliamentary candidate for Rayleigh, added: “I don’t see why green belt should be violated in this way by a developer.”

Colonnade has defended its application on the grounds it would help address what it called a serious shortage of housing land and would increase the provision of affordable housing.

Another key part of Colonnade’s argument was the fact the council had already agreed it would be necessary to allocate some green belt land in order to provide the homes required in future.

The inquiry continues.