Controversial plans to build 35 homes on south Essex green belt have been thrown out but worried residents fear an “inevitable” appeal is around the corner.

Plans for developer, Vistry Homes LTD, to build 35 homes on green belt land in Glyders, south Benfleet, were thrown out by councillors at Tuesday’s Castle Point Borough Council Development Management Committee.

The plans were deemed to not “meet the special circumstances” required to build on the green belt.

The council says an appeal is “inevitable” but believes they will still be unable to justify the objection to the incursion into beloved green belt land.

Allan Edwards, People’s Independent Party Boyce ward councillor, said: “Developers should respect that decision.

“They should respect that Glyders is and remains green belt and as is clearly argued in the report before you and in the national planning policy framework and numerous ministerial comments have made clear the green belt and its function are to be protected.

“These plans should be rejected on that basis. At this point I could say the officers’ plans are right. That is not enough, we should not only give a reason, but we should send a clear message.

“We know we need more homes in Castle Point, and we want to fulfil our duties to work with developers and deliver them, but we need the right homes in the right places.

“When I discussed this with Vistry and said about building on brownfield sites, they said that is not their business model.

“They are not looking at meeting our community need, they are looking to meet their profit need, that is their business but our business is the future of our community.”

Mr Edwards added: “This is not a case like Hart Road where the developer won their appeal to build on green belt land against the committee’s will.

“Don’t fear, we will have an appeal on this. It is probably inevitable, but that site was 100 per cent affordable rented homes this is not and will not be. There is no case for every special circumstance. The officers are 100 per cent right, project the green belt and reject it.”