THURROCK council has given the go-ahead for developers to build 90 new homes on green belt land, amid fears it could lose an appeal if the plan refused.

M Scott Properties Ltd has been granted planning permission to build the homes on land west of Park Lane, Aveley.

It follows an unsuccessful fight to stop up to 1,000 homes on green belt in east Tilbury which cost the council £87,000 after it lost an appeal to the planning inspectorate.

Councillors deferred making a decision on the application in October to allow time to assess the implications of refusing it against officers' advice. They were concerned about "substantial harm" to the green belt and further pressure on schools and healthcare.

However, at a planning meeting on Thursday (21 November) they reluctantly agreed with officers that the scheme should be approved subject to the referral to the Secretary of State following legal advice that none of the councillors' suggested reasons for refusal could be successfully defended at a planning appeal.

Speaking the meeting Cllr Tom Kelly said: "Unfortunately we've got to the end of the road here. We've tried to reject it. Green belt is a good substantive reason to refuse. Unfortunately it's become clear over the last few weeks that if we continue to reject these they are just going to be lost on appeal.

"It's a lot of money and that's tax payers' money and we have to justify that cost."

Cllr Kelly said councillors had previously been warned off approving development on green belt.

He added: "For me as a councillor it's getting very difficult and confusing to sum up these applications. Not much has changed in the National Planning Policy Framework. The only thing that's changed is attitude towards schemes in the green belt so it's incredibly difficult to try to get your head around."

Cllr Steve Liddiard supported the approval for more housing. He said: "The deciding factor for me was that we haven't even got a year's supply of housing and the homeless situation in Thurrock is appalling at the moment."

Committee chairman, Cllr Michael Fletcher - who has previously spoken about the pressure being put on councillors by developers - said: "I personally don't like this much but I do see the importance of getting up to our required level. I don't like it but I understand the reasons put forward and I can't think of any good enough reasons to say no so I will be reluctantly voting with the recommendation."

Also see: Developers accused of being greedy.