I am very disappointed that the Planning Inspector has granted an appeal for 173 homes to be built on Green Belt south of Daws Heath.

This is an awful blow to residents in Daws Heath and Hadleigh who are very concerned about the implications for wildlife, loss of infrastructure and the rural character of the area.

Both the current and the previous council administration argued that Daws Heath should be considered a ‘town’, which means the surrounding Green Belt fulfilled the planning function of stopping it from merging with neighbouring towns like Hadleigh and Thundersley. The planning inspector instead declared that Daws Heath was a ‘village’ in planning terms, therefore it’s surrounding Green Belt does not fulfil that function and this piece of land could be considered ‘Grey Belt’ under the Labour Government’s planning policy and could be built on.

It feels like this appeal was allowed over a ridiculous technicality and that this the first real taste we have had of this Labour Government’s desire to build over green spaces to meet their huge and unrealistic mandatory housing targets.

The best defence against speculative developments like this one our Borough can have is to get a Local Plan in place as soon as possible. I know that Castle Point Borough Council are working hard to produce one and I urge them to release it as soon as they are able.

Residents and Councillors opposed the appeal. My own submission at the public appeal hearing can be viewed here: https://www.rebeccaharris.org/news/dame-rebecca-harris-mp-speaks-agains…

You can read the full judgement via this link: https://acp.planninginspectorate.gov.uk/ViewDocument.aspx?fileid=619546…