A HOUSING company has submitted another application for a set of stables on Canvey’s Dutch Village, six months after their first was rejected.

Persimmon Homes withdrew a controversial bid to build 275 homes on the site in 2017, after a huge public backlash.

Instead the developers submitted an application for a stable block on the land east of Canvey Road, which was thrown out by Castle Point Council in May.

Now, the housing company has submitted an identical application for a set of stables on the land, which if approved would also change the use of the land from green belt for the keeping of horses.

At the time of the first application, campaigners feared the company were still planning to build more houses in the area, using the stable plans as a means to remove the land’s green belt status.

This was one of the reasons Castle Point Council rejected the first set of stable plans, stating it had fears it would be the first stage towards future development.

Activists from the Canvey Green Belt Campaign Group fear with the resubmission of stables plans, Persimmon Homes still have plans for houses on the island.

Posting on the group’s website, chairman Graham Bracci said: “Persimmon seem to have big housing development plans for Canvey Island Green Belt.

“However, they appear happy to play the long game, as they again propose a stable block for horses on the Dutch Village Green Belt on the cornfields, as their first stage approach to their aims.

“This will include the ‘Change of Use of Land’ as it is green belt. Their application stresses the stables will be ‘Built Development’.

“Therefore, as a whole, it should be considered that the proposal represents inappropriate development in the green belt. The NPPF identifies that such development may only be permitted under very special circumstances.”

Mr Bracci added: “The land has not been used, and is not used, for the keeping of horses. No permanent stables have been erected in the past.

“The current security of the site actively discourages and prevents horses from having easy access to the fields.” Persimmon Homes did not respond for comment.