RESIDENTS in the Horndon on the Hill area are being urged to lodge their objections to a proposed housing development in the village.

In January this year members of Thurrock Council's planning committee rejected an application for 49 new homes in the green belt - opposing an officer recommendation to approve in favour of objections from more than 185 local residents.

The scheme was described as 'isolated and car dependent' by councillors who rejected the idea of the site not being in the gren belt, despite planning officer David Stewart warning them they had no legal grounds to dispute the area was newly classified 'grey belt'.

The proposed site for new Horndon village homes

Resident Adam Judge also spoke against the proposal, describing the land as open countryside, saying: "It's a beautiful, unspoilt village," he said. "Development would permanently reduce openness and harm the green belt."

Stonebond Properties (Chelmsford) Ltd had submitted an outline application to develop land adjacent to The Paddocks.

They have since appealed to the Planning Inspectorate, who will hold a hearing.

Residents are invited to deliver their comments to the inspectorate before next Wednesday (17 June). They can be made online via this link.

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